Launched last spring by Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, formerly of Current/Elliott, contemporary line The Great aims to provide an easy, head-to-toe wardrobe of American classics. For their latest fall lineup — their fourth collection overall, shown at The Marlton Hotel during a press preview in New York on Wednesday — the design duo delivered just that. Current seemed to feel this effort is the duo’s best yet, in terms of defining The Great’s ideal client. “I think as we’ve evolved, we started to find our confidence in who this girl is, exactly. There’s a little bit more of an ease. And it feels really comfortable,” she said. “I think we’ve found our stride with what the exact ratio is between the tomboy elements and the lace and femininity and how to make it all feel right.”
The collection was full of eyelet-embroidered bohemian blouses and printed dresses, cotton and chambray shirts, soft cotton T-shirts and sweats, and a selection of denim jeans and jackets. “Fall is an opportunity for us to offer sweaters, heavy knits and jackets, and we always get excited because we’re able to articulate what that final layer is. I think that we’re inspired by pretty much everything — especially vintage pieces. We hunt around the world,” Elliott said. “And we’re excited to see that the customers are returning for their second, third and fourth pair of jeans. That’s been a fun medium for us always.”
Current added that the brand plans to roll out more categories, including leather goods and footwear, in upcoming seasons.