Theory is dressing down for spring.
Although the brand has long been known for its tailoring, Dushane Noble, head of design, is infusing a much more relaxed expression into the offering for the upcoming season.
“We’re thinking about ways in which to bring tailoring outside of the office setting and more into the everyday lives of our customers,” he said.
What that means is that silhouettes are more flowy, color palettes are lighter and fabrics are soft and comfortable, adding up to a collection that Noble described as “undone elegance.” Think soft, unlined blazers with thinner shoulder pads paired with wide-leg trousers. Or a deconstructed blazer on top of a sweatshirt or jersey knit T-shirt and worn with jeans or cotton chinos.
The same held true for the outerwear where Noble created a classic car coat, but paired it with a sweatshirt and capri knit leggings to soften the look. “We wanted to break the traditional codes within dressing — play with that tension of hard and soft,” he said.
While much of the tailoring was roomy, he made sure he was still servicing the customer looking for a more skinny silhouette by ensuring that was still an option. “We still want her to be able to have a variety of silhouettes within her wardrobe,” he said. “So it’s important to have a skinny pant, but it’s also important to have something that feels a bit more fluid.”
Function was also emphasized this season with long jackets adding side slits so pant pockets are easily accessible and raising the break of the pant higher up the thigh of a flared pant so shorter women are also “able to participate.”
Other key pieces include a nylon trench with a removable quilted lining, and a few “playful” offerings such as a white shirt with buttons up both the front and back, and a striped shirt that at first glance looks like a classic striped button-up, but with an elongated back designed to hang out in the rear of a blazer.
While tailoring plays a key role in the overall offering, the aesthetic is still very feminine. And Noble embraced that femininity with linen and lace dresses and separates that can easily be worn with the more tailored pieces.