Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty became inspired after a trip to the American Folk Art Museum in New York for their graphic spring collection. “What we loved about [one exhibit] was that it celebrated these unknown artists who were dealing with their own manias in a lot of ways,” said Beatty. “There was something about the way the artists ordered objects, organizing things as a way to comfort themselves.”
And thus — focusing on the organization of prints and lines in subdued shades of blue and Army green — Osterweis and Beatty rendered their midi dresses and culotte jumpsuits in boxy and striped geometric prints that still had a hand-drawn softness to them. The layering of prints worked to arty effect, as in a navy and white plaid seersucker dress styled over a gingham poplin button-down and worn with rounded white pumps — part of the duo’s debut footwear line.
There were feminine touches throughout, such as eyelet embroidered hemlines and floral prints on fluid silk dresses, but military-inspired silhouettes added a cool dose of androgyny to the duo’s smart, easy lineup.