you must wear this: toggery by kate d’arcy
Today was the kind of day filled with endless possibility, affirming that spring could be a season rather than a fleeting event. Today was the day you ordered an ice coffee and tossed all the sweaters in the back of your closet with abandon. Maybe you spent the afternoon in a park, on a vast expanse of green, with a book and a friend. And you didn’t feel guilty about playing hooky from work or school, because the cool grass under your toes and the warm sun on your bone-white skin was pure magic. For me, today was all about an alfresco lunch and breaking out the second-skin soft cotton dresses. This was the day I could slip into a Toggery dress.
Toggery, the brainchild of personal-shopper-turned-designer, Kate D’Arcy, debuted its collection of flowing dresses, fleeces, essential tops, and cotton skirts in 2007 with a mission to offer a collection of knits using eco-friendly practices that even the most stylish fashionista can still relate to, so that in time the everyday consumer can become socially responsible. Not only is the collection 100% organic and sustainable, each piece is colored with low-impact, energy-efficient reactive dyes that produce less chemicals and waste than natural or vegetable dyes. D’Arcy, conscious of her environmental footprint, sources her clothes from a local production facility (Pennsylvania) that practices vertical manufacturing. And did I mention that the clothes are pretty damn delicious? And affordable? Keep reading.
When you think of eco-friendly fashion, dollar signs and Chico’s catalog fashions come to mind, right? Dowdy fabrics, drab colors, unflattering silhouettes, and sticker shock – honestly who would want to spend $200 on a shirt that is simply a glorified muumuu? In a time when we’re all cost-conscious carbon-counters, designers like D’Arcy have come to the rescue with a chic, affordable line of basics that can be easily integrated in any fashionista’s closet.
Recently, I had the opportunity to view the collection first-hand, and chat with the designer, and I was thrilled we shared a common belief that when it comes to the high/low mix, it’s smart to invest in the key, forever pieces – handbag, coat, shoes, statement jewelry – but play it simple and cheap chic with the clothes. Toggery is filled with terrific wardrobe staples and smart layering pieces that will accentuate the chunky tribal necklace, play up the gladiator sandal, and make use of that waist-cinching braided belt. The fabrics are lush and vibrant (picture juicy creams, rich burgundies and reds, blistering tangerines and luscious violets) and the textures of the bamboo and modal pieces are undeniably supple and soft. Since the fabrics are so fluid and the cuts so subtle, the pieces skim the body in a fluid, flattering fashion. No tents or muumuus in sight! Simply put, you will want to drape these clothes on your skin. But what I loved most about the collection is the fact that the pieces are timeless and transitional – removing a blazer or adding a cardi will effortlessly shift the clothes through the seasons and the simple cuts aren’t trendy, they’re classics. And with a price-point that’s spot-on ($30-$120), Toggery is a must-snag!
Images above are from the forthcoming Fall 2009 collection. Top: Janna Raglan Dress; Bottom: Raquel Tee Dress
More snaps from this season’s collection after the jump!
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
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April 24th, 2009 at 2:13 am
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April 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Okay, so I’m totally smitten with each and every one of these looks. Do you think it’s greedy of me to want everything in this post?
April 25th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Not at all! I adore all of the pieces; they’re super soft and drape wonderfully on the body.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
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