Parke and Ronen Spring 2016

“Let the sun shine, let the sunshine in, the sun shine in.” For spring 2016, the design duo of Parke and Ronen not only let the sun’s rays in, they also allowed the sun’s enervating rays bless a collection that was light, at times floral, effervescent and highly accessible.

Sunshine and lollipops aside, this “Age of Aquarius” collection harkened back to the more frolicky, whimsical side of the flower child era.  No peace signs, no Black Panther fists, no nuclear disarmament symbols.  This was all sexual revolution, love, and pass the peace pipe.

And as expected, Parke and Ronen always employ male model eye candy. However, this was far from the focus of this collection as it has been in some previous outings. Though the show ended with the models in briefs, this typical denouement was more icing on the cake than the perspective of this collection.

There were no innovative male silhouettes or groundbreaking textile fabrications, but with Parke and Ronen, there never really is. Most of the clothes found in this collection could probably be hunted down in some well-equipped vintage shops.  Include the Birkenstocks and you have a "Hair" peace pipe, ashram party!!

Still, Parke and Ronen were successful in rendering up that late 60s, early 70s hippie vibe without created a collection that look too dated and dusty. And where some collections this season stayed away from bright colors, concentrating their color palettes in neutrals or a muted color spectrum, Parke and Ronen's spring 2016 collection was a dissertation in how to match disparate color combinations without the garments looking like a miasma of crazy colors thrown on a wall.

Standout looks in this collection were Parke and Ronen’s tank top in Idlewild Army Tricot with loungeshort in light grey heather cotton French terry, tank top in orange multi-stripe cotton/lycra rib knit with trouser in blue paisley stretch cotton sateen, tank top in blue and white stripe cotton jersey with trouser in dark blue bandana print cotton chambray, and ombre jean in white and lapis.

—William S. Gooch