And Ochs pre-autumn 2023

For those living in New York, the option to travel to upstate a well-deserved respite from the hustle and bustle of Gotham. A short drive away, bucolic towns offer the outdoors, rolling green hills and a way to unwind, whether it's fireside, antiquing or savoring true farm-to-table cuisine.

It's this kind of escapade that inspired Michelle Ochs' latest pre-fall collection. "For me, pre-fall is like a reset for the year, a time to build the wardrobe, the layering, the comfort, what we need to get out of all this event dressing," said Ochs from its Hudson Yards showroom. She kept that simple promise.

Ochs is a designer who understands how to create intriguing and special silhouettes on the body, often form-fitting. Pre-Fall sees her offering her ideas with a sporty twist, like a reflective piping detail seen on a black strapless dress or REI-like elastic cords, which have been used in her mix of updated shiny jersey and separates in stretch viscose.

Her pieces always had a sensuality to them, but she was also utilitarian, using both adjectives to describe his work. "It's all been on the body, but I wanted to bring in that athletic or outdoor element," she explained, expanding on the idea. She opted for oversized cargo pockets, adding a twist to a long black dress. But the real mileage came in the brighter cargo pants, an upgraded version of a standard pant. And, of course, there were laser-cut crop tops, sheer blouses, and slipdresses to boot. Outerwear proposals were strong, with a larger-than-wide puffy vest in parachute fabric that was destined to make the rounds on street style blogs once in stores. Ochs gave a wide range of ways to inject newness into the wardrobe of its customers, all with its characteristic tactile sensuality with a twist.