In the midst of preparations, Elie Tahari took a few minutes to speak with me in his office. The quiet before the storm gave him a respite from the madness 30 minutes before showtime and allowed me to ask about the big shift this season.
When asked about the change in direction to a more youthful collection, he explained, “This is not a trend. It is an evolution. There is a movement to become more casual.” The theme of the collection is “Lightening in the Darkness,” which he describes as a celebration of the darkness because without it there is no light. This sounded nebulous until I saw the collection. It has all your Fall blacks and grays, and then there are the “lightening” bolts of blues and reds. The colors pop against the backdrop of darks, which for a brand like Elie Tahari you need as the staples.
The presentation was in their 5th Ave. store, but the space was transformed with clear umbrellas on the ceiling and walls, giving it an under water aura.
Gone are the typical office work suits. My favorite must-haves were sporty sweatpants that dress up with the right shoes, a luxurious cashmere-blend bomber coat, a laser-cut wool coat, a coat in the perfect color red, and the light, sky blue coat. These are clothes you live in and with the new peppy feel, I definitely will.
I love, love, LOVE Elie Tahari’s clothing!