While many designers are touting big florals, bright colors and wild embellishments for spring 2015, Rag & Bone designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville are going a different route. Instead they are offering a collection that's almost Zen-like in its beauty and simplicity, although it has a bit of a militaristic edge.
It's like Walking Dead meets yoga class. Maybe that's the sign of the times.
Working with monochromatic colors — shades of white, navy, black and beige — with a dash of army olive and a palm-print camouflage pattern in brown and white, Wainwright and Neville present a polished, pared-down line with an emphasis on natural fabrics. It feels right for their urban customer who doesn't want a lot of muss and fuss in this crazy, chaotic world.
There are virtually no preppy hipster looks for which the brand is known. Instead, the collection features clean, calm styles, such as floaty long dresses, sleeveless long tunic coats over pants and oversized blazers closed with a strap instead of buttons. There are also ready-to-rumble looks — judo pants with a long leather tank top and a military vest and slouchy pants in army green silk — perfect for hand-to-hand combat with zombies or whatever an apocalyptic future might bring.
One particularly distinctive look draws from both sides of the collection, with a pleated skirt that looks like a pair of pants from the mid-thigh up, worn with a cotton crop top.
Outerwear is a highlight, with some terrific parkas in white cotton or a distinctive camo pattern, a stunning navy cropped double-breasted jacket, a tan trench with contrasting white buttons and olive belt, and a cool-looking quilted hoodie.
Many looks are worn with thick black-and-white sandals or two-tone tennies with Velcro straps and close-to-the-body satchels for a street-style vibe that feels comfortably urban.
Rag & Bone zigzag vest in army silk twill, Yuri cropped short in white quilted cotton, Jude convertible bag and Sidney sandal.
