Josie Natori has left her comfort zone, where the chic and sleek ladies reside. She’s wandered into more exotic territory — Istanbul — whose palaces and whirling dervishes surfaced in her luxuriously layered fall collection. Fringed wraps thrown over shawl-collared coats and trousers, toppers with circle skirts, fur stoles and a high fez all played into the show’s Turkish tone. The strongest exits were in indigo-blue wool: a short jacket and circle skirt, and a slender quilted topper and sheath, wrapped in a bordeaux knitted rabbit stole.
After the initial surprise of such exotic fare, some of the repetitive layering seemed a bit labored and unnecessary to showcase the designer’s strong separates. Nevertheless, the finale — a flowing, long-sleeved, trapunto gown in a white double-knit jersey–took Natori’s show full circle, proving she still enjoys the simple things in life.