We caught an intimate peek at Hickey Freeman’s Spring Summer 2017 collection in their showroom in NYC. Read the review below!
Hickey Freeman has an insanely lengthy history. Starting over 100 years ago, the brand has been the center of plenty of business acquisitions, but the vision has been maintained to a “T”: make great suits, with a total focus on quality. Ignoring the fashion schedule entirely and throwing the show in the middle of women’s paris fashion week, for spring/summer 2017 the suit designer has taken a step back to Palm Beach or St. Tropez and the pleasure of custom suiting. However, we’d be lying if we say we didn’t think it looked a little Star Wars, too, given the desert skyline behind and the sandy presentation floor featured models barefoot in floor-length jackets. The collection features decidedly loosened, relaxed suits in white, gray, blues and more. Not to forget the sunset tones and sandy colors of the desert – rusty, dusty western mud hues, mildly pastel but they felt fresh and breezy and not particularly preppy. The satin and linen textiles were perfectly suited to the anticipated wearable environments (Hamptons, anyone?). And to imaging George Clooney lounging in one of these at his Lake Como spread or, perhaps more likely, spotting Ryan Gosling in Tribeca. The long thin scarves (drapes?) also gave a considerable young Palawan vibe that would suit Lenny Kravitz.
But what makes Hickey Freeman great year in and year out remains here- total suit bliss- cuts to die for. Simple, tasteful lines, showing a little skin this season. Impeccable hair, pants cut just slightly looser to let go of the long-past trend of skin tight thats been happening. The ‘fashionable drape’ is what Hickey Freeman calls it, and its all about lightness and ease. Suiting being regarded as ‘light’ isn’t something you hear everyday, but here, we’re convinced. Liberal use of silk also contributes to this unique orchestra of material use. Minimal use of stripes to keep the whole thing docked in reality.
Hickey Freeman is 117 years old, but from this collection, you’d think nothing of it. The designs are exceedingly exquisite, look and feel priceless, and, there’s no way better than how CCO Arnold Silverstone put it, “Its like wearing silk pajamas in the boardroom”.
