“I’m in a mood that is about being relaxed,” Norma Kamali said during a preview of her pre-fall collection. “There’s too much stress to look beautiful every day. There’s too much dress to be perfect every day. I think the relaxed attitude about fashion feels right to me.”
The feeling brought forth a collection rooted in easy, soft, drapey lounge layers in grays and white such as “Lazy Leggings” that puddle to the floor and “Lazy Diana” dresses (sans internal bodysuits — “deconstructed,” and “like a tube” she said). Kamali layered the lot with matching tops, T-shirts, racerback bras and tanks, underwear, skirts, etc. — all of which were designed to be wrapped, layered, tied and worn all together. For a bit of polish, she peppered in navy and white tailored styles — ultra-high-waisted pants brought back from her ‘70s men’s style; clean terry jackets; dresses that riffed on the sack silhouette, and classic shirting, to name a few.
The second half of the collection leaned into the season’s wedding-friendly delivery (also nodding to her recent ceremony, where she wore her classic white Diana, black moto jacket and Celine cowboy boots). Kamali’s pre-fall selection offered plenty of adorable festive frocks with signature fringe, pearl and paillette embellishments at varying lengths, with or without hoods. There were even a few shimmering navy gowns that felt just right for bridal parties.
Even with her most festive styles, which extended from parachute navy and white ombré skirts to the return of her hologram layers, Kamali’s silhouettes upheld her relaxed mindset.
