ONES TO WATCH

This is a seriously good collection. Launched only a bit over a year ago, it has the look and feel of a well-established collection. But this is no surprise considering its roots. Founded by Laura Vazquez and Nina Khosla, and designed by Paul Helbers, it was bound to be something special.  Helbers, previously the menswear designer at The Row, continues, in his minimalist way, to seduce his customer with luxurious fabrics and clean, simple and reserved silhouettes.

His collections have been relatively small, but each piece works with the others. The clothing is confident, and it inspires confidence in the person wearing it. It feels rich without being embellished, sophisticated without being haughty, modern without being trend-driven. When you see the collection, it is hard to believe that this brand is so new. The techniques, fabric choices and impeccable tailoring give it an enduring sense of style. It feels immensely relevant, but old-school as well in its sense of timelessness and ease.

It seems odd to review a collection as advanced as this one is, under the category of ‘Ones to Watch’. I feel as if I’ve been ‘watching’ it and admiring it for years already.  But it’s a tribute to New York and to the talent within it,  that a new brand can emerge today, fully developed and perfected, like a butterfly after breaking out of its chrysalis. FForme hits the ground running.  Everyone should be watching this brand.