Amy Smilovic and her team had a collective craving for ruffles for pre-fall even though “none of us are ruffle people,” Smilovic said. “When we like something outside of our comfort zone, it’s interesting to play with it and get it to a place where we all want to wear it.”
Deconstructed and applied asymmetrically to the hems of dresses or peplum blouses, subtle ruffled accents looked cool, never precious. The frills drew a Spanish association, as Smilovic developed a colorful floral print featuring bullfighters, showing it on black pajama-style separates, a sheer chiffon dress and ankle boots. She tempered the soft, distinctly feminine pieces with a few boyish looks, chic examples of which included a light brown suit done in a fine houndstooth pattern and a matching overcoat.