The Spring/Summer 2021 collection was inspired by memories. The purposeful craftsmanship of classrooms in my Quaker elementary school; woven baskets hanging in the mud room on our farm in Valley Forge; handmade quilts from Pennsylvania Dutch shops I used to visit in Reading, and hand-crafted details from the places around the world I have been to and hope to see again.
Beauty rests in utility. A Shaker maxim that reflects the mindset my team and I were in while designing this collection. We worked through the challenges of uncertainty, isolation, and distance, using our imaginations to travel in our minds and to find new ways to connect. We emerged with a renewed interest in restraint, simplicity and creativity, translated through timeless, uncomplicated clothing that defines classic sportswear — it feels right and what women are looking for in a world compressed by seismic cultural changes.
We focused on layering, mixing-and-matching and comfort. Unfussy silhouettes, feminine prints and patterns, and materials that feel luxurious to wear. Easy caftans, dresses and tunics, poplin blouses with removable lace collars, sweaters with a retro vibe, softly tailored suits and trousers in crepe, cotton and lightweight wool, some with pull-up waists and cinched ankles. Handbags and shoes are classic and artisanal — macramé, crochet and rattan are mixed with the softest leathers and suede. Roomy, collapsible leather totes, basket-weave shoulder bags, tassel clutches, a new take on a Capri sandal and gathered suede slides add a bit of effortless and chic elegance.
Everything is meant to be layered and worn again and again.” — Tory
SILHOUETTES: Timeless sportswear — effortless cotton tunics and dresses, wrap skirts and relaxed suiting, meant to be layered and mixed-and-matched. Feminine lace blouses with removable collars. Crepe trousers are worn with a retro hand-knit sweater vest, blazers, blouses and t-shirts; some pants feature pull-up waists and cinched ankles. A cotton T-shirt is printed with “Olive You” — a play on “I love you.” Similarly, a playful intarsia sweater vest features a playful take on Tory, her husband Pierre-Yves and their dogs, Chicken and Slim.
PALETTE: Neutrals — black, white, ivory and earthy neutrals with bursts of colors like green, blue and a soft yellow.
PRINTS + PATTERN: Basket weave and rattan are seen as prints and patterns, including a painterly crosshatch. Artisanal embroideries and florals are done in different scales, ideal for mixing and layering. Trapunto stitching, macramé, piping and quilting add texture to relaxed tunics, coats and jackets. This season, Tory introduces the new T Monogram, a classic allover Double T logo pattern, which recall the quilting motifs in Pennsylvania Dutch textiles she saw during childhood visits to Amish country near her parents’ farm.
FABRICATIONS: Highlighting softness and comfort, the relaxed classic silhouettes are balanced with lightweight cotton poplin and silk twills and canvases with a worn-in feel. Linen and crepe tunics, jackets and trousers drape elegantly and effortlessly, while soft knits and intarsia add cozy layers.
ACCESSORIES: Form meets function in beautifully designed looks with dress-down and dress-up versatility. Handbags include collapsible leather totes, classic shoulder bags, some color blocked, and roomy woven leather looks. Meanwhile shoes emphasize comfort and style — suede sling-back espadrilles, the new, cushioned Miller Cloud sandal and flat and heeled loafers with cross-stitched details. Artisanal details include delicate gold filigree bead and logo detail seen on a modern Capri sandal, macramé tassel bags and necklaces. Also new are blue light blocking eyeglasses in comfortable and vintage-like silhouettes.