Last season, Tibi founder and creative director Amy Smilovic utilized sporty details within garments to up their functionality. For resort, Smilovic and her senior vice president of design, Traci Bui-Amar, pushed the concept further.
During a preview, Smilovic said their inspiration board included, “pictures we loved, things we loved and bringing it all together.” One of those inspirations was circa 1920s tennis — a sport that was a big part of Smilovic’s life growing up and has seen more recent global hype in fashion and film alike via “Challengers.”
“There’s something that is just so classic and refined, but it’s a gritty sport. I think that combination of true grit, but it’s very lovely at the same time…that speaks a lot to what’s going on in the world,” Smilovic said.
The collection certainly wasn’t full tenniscore, but nods to sport could be seen via preppy blazers, varsity knits and cardigans with custom Tibi crests (boasting the brand’s original 1997 green elephant logo); great pleated skirts, which were actually pleated panels hooked onto slim skirts and mini skorts with carabiners, and a handful of slick tracksuits.
She continued to double-down on the quintessential Tibi DNA of functional dress with refined knit indigo denim bottoms in the brand’s classic shapes, like the Sid and Barrel Leg, which felt like denim sweats, but much chicer. See also: a reversible trench with those same customizable carabiner clips; elevated but easy-to-wear footwear, and clever Oxford shirting hoodies.
“I talk a lot now about not bifurcating your life,” she said of the collection, pointing out a multiuse, go-anywhere “perfect down coat.” Color — a tool as outlined in Smilovic’s book, “The Creative Pragmatist” was also at play.
“If you want to feel sharper, classic and preppy there’s that combination,” she said of black-and-white ensembles, “but if you want to feel very eased out and chill, then it’s this combination,” of “Ring 3” [no-color colors] calming purples and oranges,” she said. “I think giving customers those tools is important.”