Whatever America put in the water 10 years ago is really paying off. Today we celebrated yet another fantastic decade for a fashion designer: Phillip Lim. And for the occasion, his 3.1 collection entitled ‘Stop and Smell the Flowers’ was as celebratory and full of Lim-isms as it was romantic, which isn't a term one usually attached to the man's highly salable repertoire. It was also a reminder, thanks to the brand’s show notes, that this label – founded by both Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou – is one of the only independently owned fashion businesses going. Testament to not only impressive acument, but Lim’s ability to create the wardrobe staples you never knew you needed but simply must own, all at a price point that remains aspirational but never prohibitive.
So hurrah for Lim and the team – a moment or two to stop and smell the flowers is more than deserved. We expect many more of those coveted Pashli bags to fly out of stores as time goes on, but this spring/summer 2016 show was also an incredibly strong outing both in terms of accessories and clothing. It perhaps placing him in another, entirely softer category that favoured ruffles over toggles, florals over tough checks and silk palazzo pants over moto trousers.
Housed within an empty pier, Lim’s streetwear sat prettier than ever and industry collided with nature as the crowds (including Solange Knowles and Alexa Chung) walked in to find huge cone-like mounds of soil planted about the runways – it was a sculptural installation by artist and environmentalist Maya Lin and it signaled the start to Lim’s earthy colour palette. In keeping with New York’s particularly zen mood this season, we weren’t surprised to hear that this soil will be repurposed and redirected to New York City gardens. So if the team could just redirect the backless blouses, peeptoe booties, ruched shirting, jumbo metallic clutches and military green split skirt to our hotel rooms that would be super…