Duckie Brown Fall 2016

 OK, so Duckie Brown only showed six looks for their fall 2016 runway presentation. Interesting concept!! Lots of fashion pundits and industry professionals were outraged and chagrined that one of their fan favorites would show such a skimpy collection.

Still, if you are going to present such a downsized collection, each garment better be a masterpiece. I wouldn’t call each garment in this collection a work of art, but compared to Duckie Brown’s spring 2016 collection—which was a mélange of misfires and missed opportunities—the fall 2016 collection, though miniscule, was well done and leagues above spring 2016.

Where Duckie Brown’s design aesthetic for spring 2016 somehow got very lost in translation, the fall 2016 collection was short, sweet and a return to the Duckie Brown the fashion aficionados all love. With a collection that centered on the simple white shirt and black suit, industry professionals saw the return of the oversized pants and jackets with a hint of androgyny.

Creative Directors Steven Cox and Daniel Silver’s traditional white shirt altered to include a hoodie and bomber silhouette was a brilliant nod to the athleisure wear trend. And the design duo’s boxy, oversized double-breasted jacket and additional topcoats was an interesting and fitting homage to the brand’s penchant for minimalism.

Less is more was the order of the day for Duckie Brown’s fall 2016 collection. And it actually worked!! Who says a collection has to have 25-plus garments? If you can show your design brilliance in what amounts to a small capsule, why not!! 2016 is all about finding what works, and if short and sweet works, go for it!!

—William S. Gooch