How To Combine Stripes, Try a Reverse Tuxedo, and More Summer Styling Tips
May 12, 2017 | Filed in: Your Closet
Part three of our latest collection, The Light Fantastic, launches this week—look forward to clean, crisp whites, sharp summer suiting, and more stripes (because you asked, and we’re always listening). Here, MM designer Miyako Nakamura walks us through our new pieces and how to style them.
Miyako’s summer inspiration board.
BOLD BLACK AND WHITE combinations were a central theme of this collection. Part of the inspiration was this photograph of a woman wearing multiple striped garments: a top and a pair of loose pants [shown above]. We created a hand-drawn stripe that comes in two different scales—one bigger, and one smaller—that can be worn together. I love the idea of combining stripes of different scales and textures for a nuanced effect.
The Brontë top in kohl stripe with the Astoria skirt in painted stripe (coming this week).
OUR LATEST STRIPES were hand-drawn with charcoal pencil by Arushi, who works in our design department. I like that the lines are a bit inconsistent, and reveal the human hand.
The Dietrich jacket in birch with the Crawford 2.0 top in black (both coming this week) and the Oshima pant in black.
A SUMMER TUXEDO was also at the top of my mind this season. We used a light fabric that looks and feels like linen, only it’s machine-washable—we call it plein air—to update our Dietrich jacket, and added black contrast piping. It can go to the office or a party or brunch, and then it transitions to evening. I also think it’s great for layering over sleeveless pieces, and when it’s worn over black, it’s like a reverse tuxedo. It’s relaxed, but has a formal air.
The Ferrante top (coming this week) and the Foster pant in viridian.
A DRAPED TOP dresses up any look, no matter what you have on the bottom. Drape has always been a big part of our aesthetic—it relates strongly to our Japanese wrapping concept, and makes a woman look like she is wrapped in her clothes. It makes everything look more polished. You can wear it with jeans, or a trouser, or a skirt.
Left: The Simone top in black with the Noho skirt in yarn stripe. Right: The Reanna dress in yarn stripe. (Yarn stripe items coming this week.)
OUR NEW YARN STRIPE is a very luxurious jacquard that’s made of bouclé yarn. It’s highly dimensional, and has a slimming effect because of the placement of the stripes on the body. It’s very structured, and also has some stretch and a summery lightness. It’s very easy to wear.
The Cynthia dress in chevron weave (coming this week).
THE CHEVRON WEAVE might look like a simple white fabric, but it’s made from multiple different yarns that are woven to create an incredible texture. It has this comforting, soft, protecting quality. The square back of the Cynthia dress is very attractive for summer occasions, or you can add the matching white Albright jacket and make it into a suit for the office.
