Real clothes for real women emerged as a trend in the fall 2023 collections. Tracy Reese is no stranger to this approach, and she says that she’s spent more time with her customers in order to best understand what they want: clothes for work and beyond that look great and aren’t too fussy or cumbersome. This manifested as white cotton blouses, denim dresses and skirts combining several washes in one, abstract prints in tonal shades of pink, blue-green, and gray, and leopard print separates and shifts. It’s easy to view the collection as a wardrobe, where the pieces mix and match with each other.
Reese is committed to sustainable practices and, this season, shifted her sweater production to a “a fair trade, women-owned and -run factory in Peru,” per the collection notes. Other notable textiles include organic cotton and two eco-friendly cellulosic fibers, Lenzing Modal Ponte and Tencel linen.
The trick with designing a collection like this is to strike the right balance of wearable and special. Some of the strongest pieces in the collection are the bubble-hem shirt dresses in a range of patterns and colors. The voluminous skirt adds drama to a classic closet workhorse.
