The secret behind 6397 is not that it delivers well made, no-frills clothing, or that its proportions embody the sophisticated ease of the downtown New York woman. It’s that, while doing these things, the label has a point of view personal to Ishii and her team. A loose slip in the new pre-fall collection was based on one of the many vintage slips brand founder Stella Ishii has collected over the years. But the shining example of this personal approach was an oversized striped grandpa v-neck sweater in baby alpaca. It had its own charm sitting folded in the showroom, but the moment Jenny Smith, who designs the collections with Ishii, threw it on, it magnified her laid-back vibe. The sweater is styled in this lookbook with a pair of baggy jeans and heavy-duty black boots, which happens to be just what Smith was wearing. Call it serendipity, but the truth is that the women behind 6397 don’t just sell a lifestyle, they really live it.
The strongest message in this delivery was color: Bright red orange, vibrant cerulean blue, deep peacock green, and rich charmeuse punctuated the collection. Over-the-knee shorts and skirts made roomy cardigans and cable-knit ponchos viable for summer, while relaxed, casual tailoring elevated the assortment by dressing it up ever so slightly. A floral print pushed the lineup out of its comfort zone.
