With athleticism becoming a major touchpoint with today’s designers, it was no surprise that Prabal Gurung made American sportswear the focus of his Spring 2015 collection. But that he’d juxtapose those strong silhouettes against such soft fabrications – inspired by traditional Napalese dressing – was a delightful spin. From cloque jacquard and bleached denim to flitty feathers and three-dimensional rhododendron blooms, he managed to cover all the bases. Sure he had beautiful ruffled dresses, but one of the buzziest looks, a colorblocked pantsuit with unstructured, contrasting lapels, felt more androgynous.
Overall, though, what really stood out were the basics: fans may have discovered their new favorite neckline, a Y-shaped, shoulder-baring tank. And showgoers surely appreciated that, despite going so sporty, he didn’t take the obvious route (you know, jumping onto the designer sneakers bandwagon). Instead, he used the opportunity to debut his first-ever footwear line of multi-strapped sandals and classic booties. A pleasant surprise indeed.
