Fashion Week: rag & bone Forms a Girl Gang, Creatures of Comfort Shows a ‘Killer’ Collection

Bowling shirts, ’50s-style high-waisted pants, skirts and denim splattered in what looked like motor oil — have rag & bone’s Marcus Wainwright and David Neville been watching Grease? That was our first thought as we headed out of Moynihan Station on West 33rd Street, where the designers have held their shows for several seasons.

Indeed, there was more than a hint of the Pink Ladies in the satin shirts and short jackets that had some models’ first names — Georgia May (as in Jagger), Joan (as in Smalls) — embroidered on them.

But instead of a cheerful Pepto pink, the pieces were ready for the city girl in black, grey, almond, and navy. You could practically hear the enamored audience, which included Joe Jonas and Swizz Beatz, humming “You’re the One That I Want” as the models stomped past in fabulous footwear (toasty shearling mules, blue lace-up knee-high boots, and slouchy red booties were all hits).

Of course, the rag & bone gang member doesn’t just hang out at the drag race all day. For special occasions, there was a navy pinstripe blazer paired with black wool shorts over leggings, an olive mohair sweater coat with impossible-to-miss knee-high boots in hot-rod red, and jackets and short shorts (so many shorts!) done in a black tweed flecked with white (they called it “confetti tweed”). Their collaboration with Coogi, best known for the eccentric knits once favored by The Notorious B.I.G., resulted in a few wild sweaters and skirts that didn’t exactly fit with the rest of the collection, but were eye-catching and memorable nevertheless. In short, the line should win over many new initiates next fall.

But what if you’re not into fast cars and danger? What if you’re more drawn to the solitude of libraries and your own imagination? Creatures of Comfort, designed by Jade Lai, showed a strong, sophisticated collection for the Brooklyn bookworm in the beautiful, old Hoffman Hall at the Highline Hotel, the perfect setting for the murder-mystery themed show.

“A killer mingles among us,” read a handout from the designer. And the first suspect? A mysterious model in a black cashmere turtleneck dress and an oversized blue driving coat (which we wished we could have borrowed for the freezing weather) topped off with Illesteva sunglasses and a black felt hat.

Other highlights from this stylish rogues’ gallery (34 looks in all) included a grey check dress with a pink slip peeking out below the knee and a massive striped scarf; a long forest-green dress in washed silk under a masculine black jacket; and, for the just-rolled-out-of-bed look, a matching blue plaid top and pants reminiscent of pajamas with a delicate cardigan underneath. It’s not called Creatures of Comfort for nothing.