Are you experiencing sensory overload? The return to “normal life”—whatever that means—has been rather overwhelming: All the people, all the noise of packed restaurants. The small talk with strangers at parties, the brush of someone’s skin as they press against you in the office elevator. It all requires some readjustment, even as we exult in the novelty of crowds.
Such musings were occasioned by Rachel Comey’s latest outing, which is something of a paean to sensation—colorful, richly textured, filled with bold prints and punctuated by hits of acid. As countermeasures, Comey offered a healthy number of items in palate-cleansing neutrals, and kept her silhouettes laid-back, with lots of oversize shirting and slouchy pants—just the thing for easing into post-pandemic hyper-vitality.
Well, fingers crossed about the “post-pandemic” thing, but it was clear that’s the future Comey was anticipating as she designed this collection. The giveaway were the looks that gestured—gently—at a return to office formality. There was some soft suiting, and crisply tailored pieces in wide-wale corduroy, like a pair of long shorts ideal for that wacky transitional time when summer’s not quite over, temperature-wise, but fall has technically begun, bringing with it the obligation to look smart. Looking ahead to cooler weather, Comey showed some fantastic outerwear, such as a curly shearling jacket and ice pink coat in a raised herringbone wool. Both had a sprightly spirit—outerwear excited about the possibility of, you know, actually going out again.
