“For Fall/Winter 2017, we found inspiration in the fearlessness and irreverence of Katharine Hepburn’s character in The Philadelphia Story. Her outdoor glamour combined with a confident femininity creates a modern take on the familiar style of my own roots in Philadelphia. We played with the idea of Fair Isle knits, barn jackets, and winter whites and thought about contrast, creating variations on a theme: plaid tweeds, prints, and enlarged in shearling. Accessories complete the story, from bow shoes and soft men’s briefcases to a pendant necklace inspired by my father’s cigarette lighter.” — Tory Burch
Silhouettes: The collection fuses masculine and feminine elements, evoking Philadelphia’s chic outdoor glamour. A blouse with an exaggerated bow tops menswear-inspired pants with a refined fit; a sporty bomber is paired with a pleated skirt. Sweaters, from Fair Isle to cardigans, have a nostalgic appeal, but the play on proportion is relevant for today. Eveningwear—jumpsuits and easy long-sleeved gowns— epitomizes tomboy-chic.
Palette: Winter white and black complement a warm palette of golden age, classic camel, rust, port, and grassland green, as well as touches of a bold blue.
Prints and Patterns: Old-school checks and plaids balance chintz-style florals; and a whimsical ballerina print references the works of Edgar Degas at The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.
Fabrications: Classic materials are updated with an unexpected twist. A plaid is interpreted in different ways, from wool to shearling to silk threaded with lurex yarn. Floral appliques, corduroy strips, pearl buttons, and oversized monograms (inspired by Tory’s father “Buddy”) bring rich texture to traditional materials, like tweed, silk, and velvet.
Accessories: Prints and fabrications carry through to accessories. Elegant heels take on menswear-inspired details, like loafer-like fringe and broguing; while an unstructured briefcase is printed with the first stanza of Ithaka—hommage to Tory’s family history. Delicate earrings and industrial rings round out the collection.