Words: Mix Cacho-Negrete

Norma Kamali has been a staple of the fashion world for over fifty years, and her clothes continue to strike an incredible balance between feeling vintage in spirit and stylish in the present.

This particular collection revisited Kamali’s history of creating wearable yet chic clothing, with a re-edition of her “SWEATS” line, originally released in the 1980s. Kamali’s fashion storytelling was fully realised in this collection, with looks designed for every moment of the day and every possible occasion – from running errands to walking the red carpet. Many pieces were also priced under $200, which is a rarity in itself. There’s nothing I love more than affordable, high-quality fashion that makes the modern woman feel beautiful, no matter the setting.

Featuring over seventy looks, Kamali concentrated on clean, straightforward silhouettes with touches of 80s glamour, from dresses to cropped statement jackets. These themes ran throughout the collection, explored in a spectrum of colours. That stood out to me too – in her language of colour, Kamali chose shades that translated effortlessly into the real world. Black, white, soft grey, metallic silver, and my personal favourite – a delicate baby pink that felt perfect for spring. None of the colours felt intimidating; instead, they made some of the more experimental pieces more approachable for women uncertain about bold purchases.

Few designers leaned into baby pink this season, so it was refreshing to see Kamali adopt it as her ‘statement colour’. Yet it was never overbearing; rather, it offered an accessible way to weave colour into a spring wardrobe. True to her narrative approach, the collection flowed like a story: a fashion lover could begin her workday in a light pink tailored suit, slip into a silky mini dress for after-work cocktails, then head to a New York gala in a full-length baby pink gown – and perhaps even make it to the after-party in a micro mini dress, complete with a faux-fur pink shrug (my favourite Kamali creation from the presentation). For those less enamoured with pink, the same pieces were available in more understated shades.

Ultimately, the Kamali woman can mix and match almost any piece from this collection, and the result will always be pretty FAULTless. And that’s exactly how we like it.