Norma Kamali’s business runs like a well-oiled machine, but the designer has decided she doesn’t want to waste away in the future. Rather, in the interest of shaking things up a bit, she looked at her pre-fall offering from a new perspective: “It’s not a collection; It’s just for show,” she said on the walk-through. “The thing I like best is that it is completely different from last season. ‘Disconnect’ sounds somewhat negative, but I like that people will look at the collection and think, ‘Oh, this is something I haven’t seen or this is something I want to try.’ However, not all elements of the lineup were “random”. Kamali is actively engaged with its customers; They wanted to recreate the lacy vintage jumpsuit worn by Sabrina Carpenter, and she agreed.
The unifying element is the strong, straightforward palette of red, white and black with touches of metallic. There are also some themes, like bias plaid and red rose print; Kamali has you covered most of the time (there are lots of options) whether you’re planning a pool party or a City Hall wedding. The Peter Pan collar, sheer striped top and jumpsuit with patch pockets, and mitred checks reflect 1940s American fashion and some of its utilitarian elements. Yet, like others in the industry, Kamli too has a fondness for glamour. To satisfy this, the models wear cartoon red wigs inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell that really bring the lookbook to life.
