Kate Barton is making her first foray into pre-collections. It’s a smart business move for the young designer who, in the past few seasons, has made an effort to expand her offerings and brand identity beyond the sculptural, liquid dresses for which she’s known. This season, we see an evolution of the Barton identity that includes more daywear, including skirt sets, tailoring, and knitwear that still honors the designer’s aesthetic. “We still get to show off our tailoring and offerings that still feel occasion-driven, but also showcase our expansion into the more personal everyday looks too,” the designer said.
The result is a multitude of workaday essentials, but elevated with a discerning touch. One standout is a tailored, fitted vest that comes with a keyhole detailing at the chest and a signature Barton metallic emblem at the center. It also features hook eye closures throughout that make it adjustable for the wearer’s preferred fit (which can change day-to-day or even throughout the day). Barton even recommends leaving the top two closures unbuttoned for a sexier look.
For the past few seasons, the designer has taken to a trompe l’oeil approach to designing, often screen printing her unique prints onto breezier fabrications. This season, one liquid dress image is screen-printed onto a casual skirt set made from an easy jersey. From afar, it gives off a more elevated look, but without the sacrifice of comfort.
