June 14, 2021: Proenza Schouler’s Resort 2022 collection was born for those of us who aren’t quite ready to ditch our cozy at-home looks just yet. Designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough picture post-pandemic life a little more relaxed than other collections we’ve seen recently. They bring back the luxury that we longed for throughout the previous year while retaining much of the effortlessness and ease we have come to know and love for pre-spring.
As we gradually return to the world as we knew it pre-pandemic, functionality and comfort remain a key priority (especially for everyone commuting to work again). I don’t know about you, but something about being on a subway at 8 a.m. in my previous work ensembles doesn’t sound as desirable anymore. For example, the luxury brand’s marigold and bouclé sweater and skirt set feel more synonymous with the times than a pair of stilettos and a tucked collared button-up.
The brand captures the essence of comfort with of-the-moment structural fixes. Knits are presented in the form of ribbed tanks, pants, and cardigans that closely resemble our favorite at-home sets but with playful feminine silhouettes. Not wholly throwing out the idea of the roaring 20s and glamourous fêtes, the resort collection has a standout royal blue flowy dress with a dropped-back cutout—perfect for wearing to those occasions that call for a dressier option.
Hernandez and McCollough keep one foot in the comforts of the bubble we’ve been in throughout the pandemic. In contrast, the other foot stands firmly in the unknown we’re currently entering. Hence, the attractive return of suiting and precise tailoring incorporated in the collection with leather lapels. The duality of Proenza Schouler’s values doesn’t stop at the ready-to-wear garments. An open-toed shearling slipper naturally accompanies modern looks, while rubber boots and chunky sneakers round out others. As demonstrated by the designers, abandoning our quarantine ensembles is a marathon, not a sprint.
