Pablo Coppola’s recent appointment to Bally has brought about the idea of dressing casually, on a tremendous budget. For his spring/summer 2015 collection, his women appear similar to those in J. Crew catalogs; except the usual cotton skirt was exchanged for python-skin, and soft leather sandals for crocodile clogs. There were, though, slouchy distressed jeans, that gave the collection a more approachable and handsome vibe.
Coppola’s gentlewoman does display signs of masculinity, though she is not manly, per se. Rather, he deconstructed several masculine shapes (suit tailoring, denim work shirts, and oversized coats, namely), adding fluidity to each garment’s silhouette and proportion. His use of silk, particularly, appeared less structured and more feminine.
Bally spring/summer 2015
The designer interestingly paralleled dissonant colors of soft pink and cream with deep, deep plum and green. This felt reminiscent of a 1970s bohemian palette. Not to mention, thick belts cinched long linen dresses. On the whole, Coppola’s collection felt liberated, yet clean cut. Some stylistic decisions felt forced, like work blazers tied loose around the waist, but nonetheless, these pieces are wardrobe essentials. And bear in mind that Look 8, a snakeskin shift, can be easily replaced with cotton or similar.
