Skall Studio’s beautiful fall show was inspired by the flowers of Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen). Picking up that thread, the starting point for Julie and Marie Skall’s resort collection was the Danish author’s estate, which is located just North of Copenhagen. The garden there is good for bird watching, noted Marie. Somehow thoughts of flying feathered creatures led the sisters to Birds of Britain, a 1967 photo book documenting young, happening women of the time, such as Marianne Faithfull and Jane Birkin. (Bird being slang for girl at the time.)
These icons, Marie said, are “the kind of women that we think about when we design our collections and the women that we believe are our customers: independent, creative women.” How does that relate to an avian theme, you ask? It’s “that sense of freedom—freedom in dressing and freedom in being who you are,” Marie explained.
That’s a vastly roundabout and somewhat redundant backstory for a small and straightforward collection, but it did have its highlights. A white lace dress with scalloped edges styled with a scarf around the waist and a pouch bag (which are ubiquitous this season) evoked a summery romantic and bohemian vibe. Other strong pieces, like the deep green topcoat with contrast top-stitching and single-breasted blazer worn with a skirt over pants, read more autumnal and slightly bookish. The choice of pinstripe was a reference to Patti Boyd who was photographed in a mannish suit of that material. Given the context, it might be described as “nest” in show.
