You can’t go up against a twilight view of the Manhattan skyline and come out on top. It’d be foolish even to try to compete. Thakoon, smart as he is, instead made it the main star of his latest show. Choosing a roof terrace in Dumbo, one of Brooklyn's most buzz-worthy neighbourhoods, as his location, the designer put out a collection full of options to entice a girl of today to get dressed up and get lost in the big city below. A masterclass in layering, it included floral and dot printed cropped jackets over frilly shirts and plaid skirts, great teddy bear coats and faux mink bombers. Also noteworthy, the easy, ruffled print Georgette dresses the designer is known for - this season, a butterfly print stood out - that accompanied an array of knit staples such as big turtlenecks, camel merino cardigans and grey mohair cape sweaters. When I say 'today' I mean it. The majority of the looks are available to buy immediately.
If the clothes were about right now, the music - I Can’t Wait by Nu Shooz with a little bit of Madonna’s Into The Groove thrown in at the end - put you right into the heady New York of the eighties. It helped energise a collection that relied heavily on the easy wardrobe pieces that would attract a consumer immediately, instead of something more thought-provoking that needs time to be distilled. If this wasn’t Thakoon at his most exciting, then it was the designer at his most solid and steady and that in itself is exciting for the future of his brand. With a recent reboot, new backers and a new store, the future of Thakoon looks as bright as the twinkling city lights across the river.
