Tanya Taylor dives into creative projects with gusto—whether it's hand-painting all the invitations to her Spring ’14 show or dip-dyeing Mongolian furs with Manic Panic for Fall. Going into her first Resort season, Taylor wanted to reimagine the standard lookbook format, so she teamed up with mixed-media artist Kalen Holloman—whose witty collages have gained a strong Instagram following—to juxtapose studio images of the new collection with unexpected backdrops around New York City. While the resulting shots (staged in locations ranging from a subway platform to Central Park to just outside Taylor's own apartment) will make for a clever marketing tool, they also spoke to the graphic nature of the latest lineup, which the emerging designer described as a "reinterpretation of cutting and pasting with sharp edges."
Indeed, the clothes themselves had a more urban feel than usual, but they still maintained a distinctive feminine charm. Taylor whipped up a fresh, swingy take on the moto jacket from a dense, textured cotton with abstract embroidery and leather accents. Contrasting black-and-white patterns reoccurred throughout the lineup, notably on a series of A-line dresses and skirts featuring discreet side slits created with angular front panels. Elsewhere, bold red brushstrokes brought energy to a fluid navy trench; varsity-like cropped sweaters were updated with chevron stitching; and flattering micro-knit sheaths came splashed with a jagged floral print that was sweet without being too precious. Meanwhile, Taylor successfully experimented with water-resistant latex details on several pieces. "I really wanted everything to look cool but really have a purpose, too," she said. Ultimately, Taylor's knack for continually surprising each season makes her a dynamic voice in the emerging talent pool.
