The buzz at the recent press presentation of Tory Burch’s Spring-Summer 2016 ready-to-wear collection in Hong Kong, was all about the New York designer’s recent engagement to LVMH Fashion Group chair and CEO Pierre-Yves Roussel.
The story appeared in the day’s issue of the New York Times. (Burch had announced her marriage plans on her Instagram days earlier.)
The idea behind Burch’s new collection (to roll out in Manila in March, through Stores Specialists Inc.) may not have a direct correlation to her current happy state, but the delectation in her color palette—the kind that summons bright summer sunshine—makes you feel like it does. It’s awash in poppy red, periwinkle and marigold.
The joy of seeing Burch’s collection up close is finding that its merits aren’t lost in a highfalutin or grandiose press note.
In truth, the collection is described in a pretty straightforward manner: inspired by nature and a mix of contrasts. It’s easily understood—which isn’t to say the renderings are boring or predictable.
Unexpected
Take, for instance, Burch’s combination of cotton knit and Lurex, or cotton linen with metallic gold embroidery, or sporty knit with guipure lace—textural mixes that are unexpected yet delightfully pretty.
Tory Burch has slim cotton and linen tunics edged with crystal beadwork and paired with guipure lace shorts, fringe-edged tweed skirts with embroidered blouses, pompom-edged sleeveless tops, caftans and cover-ups in similar fringe-edged tweed, and tops and dresses of guipure lace with crisscross backs, which are dainty and coquettish at the same time.
Some of the embroidery patterns are inspired by forgotten temples, and adorn skirts, dresses and tunics. There’s an ease to the silhouettes, in the way a skirt is draped unencumbered and fastened simply by a D-ring on one side, or how a poolside party-perfect strapless number (in white linen with gold thread embroidery, tweed, or Lurex) is seemingly tucked under one arm, like you would a sarong.
Shimmer comes in several Lurex pieces, in silvery white and soft pastel shades.
The bright periwinkle-and-poppy-red tweed fabric also appears in a couple of handbags, with fringe edging. It’s also used in Burch’s summer shoe du jour: peep-toe square-toe slingback sandals, which come in varied fabrications (from cotton linen to metallic leather, or a combination of both) and heel heights, from flats to mid to high. The high-heel styles come with sculptural heels, some with carved shapes inspired by a tree bark.
Burch’s handbags for the season are mostly top-handle, from charming cocktail sizes to utilitarian daytime totes.
The jewelry pieces use oxidized metal, giving them a vintage feel, almost as if they’ve been mined from an ancient tomb somewhere in the old world.
Tory Burch is at Greenbelt 5, Makati, Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La.
