Rachel Comey: Real Talk on Pre-Fall Collection
Some designers try to romance you. Some refuse to speak. (More fool them, but that’s a story for another time.) Rachel Comey gives you real-talk. At a showroom appointment, she broke down her pre-fall collection into three themes—work travel, beachy escape stuff, and summer events—and then proceeded to dig into the fibers her team developed for each. I’ve been at the review business for a long time, and I can’t remember an occasion when a designer used the term “fibers.” Like her clothes, Comey is down to earth, but she’s also prone to surprise and delight.
Most of the fibers in question here were exceedingly lightweight because it’s a hot time of year. For suiting, Comey worked with weavers in India on a speckled linen, and for strappy bare dresses she chose a crinkled cotton silk blend, a crisp taffeta, and a bouncy foam-like tech fabric. As for knits, there were floral intarsia sets and a stretch eyelet, which is an old favorite done in new colorways, for an array of swim shapes. Among the bathing suits, the most novel was a long-sleeved one-piece with a little hem that just about qualified it as a dress—wear it at the pool, wear it on the street.
With an eye to the way her customers really live, she emphasized rugby-weight cotton separates in cool, roomy shapes; athleisure-y color-blocked nylon; and printed ripstop cargo pants along with a matching rain parka. On the accessories front, the crumpled knitted raffia bucket hats were delightful indeed.
In the fashion world, designers often have different approaches when presenting their collections. While some may try to create a sense of allure and mystery, Rachel Comey takes a different route by offering real-talk and straightforward insights into her designs. During a recent showroom appointment, Comey discussed her pre-fall collection, breaking it down into three key themes: work travel, beachy escape essentials, and summer events. What set Comey apart was her deep dive into the fibers her team had developed for each piece, showcasing a level of detail and thoughtfulness that is not often seen in the industry.
The focus of Comey’s collection was on lightweight fabrics, perfect for the hot weather. From speckled linen suiting to crinkled cotton silk blend dresses, crisp taffeta, and innovative tech fabrics, Comey’s range of materials catered to a variety of styles and occasions. Knits featured floral intarsia sets and stretch eyelet designs, adding a playful touch to swimwear options. One standout piece was a long-sleeved one-piece bathing suit that could easily double as a dress, blurring the lines between poolside and streetwear.
Taking into account the practicalities of everyday life, Comey incorporated rugby-weight cotton separates, athleisure-inspired nylon pieces, and printed ripstop cargo pants paired with a matching rain parka. Accessories played a key role in the collection, with crumpled knitted raffia bucket hats adding a touch of whimsy to the overall look.
Rachel Comey’s pre-fall collection not only showcases her talent for design but also her ability to connect with her customers on a deeper level. By focusing on high-quality materials, versatile pieces, and thoughtful details, Comey has once again proven why she is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry.
