For those who call New York City home, the chance to get upstate offers a well-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of Gotham. A short car ride away, the bucolic towns provide open air, lush green hills and a way to decompress, be it by the fire, antiquing or dining on true farm-to-table cuisine.
It is that kind of getaway that inspired Michelle Ochs’ latest pre-fall collection. “Pre-fall for me is like a reset for the year, a time to build up the wardrobe, layering, cozy, what we need coming off all this event dressing,” Ochs said from her Hudson Yards showroom. She delivered on that straightforward promise.
Ochs is a designer who understands how to craft intriguing and special silhouettes on the body, often going bodycon. Pre-fall sees her propose her ideas with a sporty edge, like a reflective piping detail seen on a black bustier dress or REI-type bungee cords, which were used throughout her mix of updated gloss jersey and power stretch viscose separates.
You May Also Like
Her pieces always have sensuality baked in, but she packed in utility here, too, using the two adjectives to describe her work. “Everything has been about the body, but I wanted to bring in this element of sport or outdoors,” she explained, expanding on the idea. She made a bet on oversized cargo pockets, adding a twist to a long black gown. But the real mileage came from glossy fuller cargo pants, an elevated take on a standard pant. And, of course, there were slinky laser-cut crop tops, sheer blouses and slipdresses to boot. Outerwear propositions were strong, with a larger than large puffy vest in parachute fabric that destined to make the rounds on street-style blogs once it hits stores. Ochs gave a wide range of ways to inject newness into her customer’s wardrobe, all with her signature tactile sensuality with a twist.