Eryn Brinie Fall/Winter 2011 Preview

  

Last season, my travels prevented me from previewing the Eryn Brinie (pronounced Brin-yay) Spring 2011 collection. It was kind of a bummer because I'd walked passed their Soho store several times and admired the pale minimalism and easy breezy but sharp silhouettes. Therefore, I was excited when I was offered the chance to preview Fall.

The brand had set up shop at the uber-trendy Ace Hotel which seems to be the norm nowadays as this was the second brand I'd visited there in as many weeks. Makes sense though as the throwback decor can rival any stylized boutique and is the perfect backdrop for this sort of apparel.

Fall, what Fall? In stark contrast to it's label mate Kai-Aakmann, also showing at the Ace, Eryn Brinie's contempory apparel stuck mostly to soft pinks, light grays, taupes and tans; a traditional Spring palette in a time when there's nothing traditional about Spring. In this time when color has become more seasonless, it's actually pretty fitting to see them appear out of turn. Besides, I miss when soft pastels used to dominate the season. There was something so lovely and happy about it.

It's not all light and airy though. The collection is rounded out by coats with generous amounts of fur placed on the collar or in the lining. This is the fourth time this season that I've seen a shearling jacket. It almost makes you wonder if designers of different companies are in cahoots with one another. Either way, be on the lookout. Shearlings are coming back and Eryn Brinie's luscious, cropped take is a version that's at the top of our list.