Tracy Reese Spring 2014: Bright Colors, Bold Prints

For a designer known for favoring bright colors and bold prints (often on silhouettes fit for a First Lady), the spring collection was true to form. Though it got off to a rather unexciting start—the expected crisp white, zoomed-in florals and stripes—it didn’t take long to really hit its stride. The real meat of the collection popped up about a third of the way through, with a black 3/4-sleeve lace dress with medium-blue brocade inset. This look ushered in ladylike looks in the form of ball gowns, flouncy hems and killer prints.

White lace is a no-brainer for spring, and while Reese’s pieces—a midi floral lace dresses and a flouncy tank—are nice, the most exciting aspects of her collection are when the designer is just following her bliss. Think a series of better florals: a 3D sequin-encrusted dress and dresses of cleverly broken up ditzy prints. Also, vignettes of florals mimicking Impressionist paintings, rendered on skirts and tops and a surprisingly covetable pair of slouchy sweatpants. Some of the looks could have done without the jaunty fedora, but we’ll forgive Reese as she included a few really cool backpacks.

The collection is punctuated with a really nice check (mustard yellow, pale yellow and black) and most looks were finished with strappy gladiator sandals in many iterations—oh, and flowers rendered in henna on models’ skin (on legs and upper arms). Overall, Reese showed what’s basically the ideal spring collection—airy and light, uncomplicated but not boring. Though not all together prim, there were a few frocks we wouldn’t be surprised to see on the wishlist of Michelle Obama herself.