Rather than taking inspiration from a specific source, like his jogs along the West Side Highway or surf sessions at Rockaway Beach like in previous seasons, Yigal Azrouël embraced the more esoteric. “I like the idea of imperfection,” he said. “It’s about work in progress.” Still, there is palpable consideration in his work. Flowing dresses are finished with leather belted halter necks; an airy trench is made from recycled parachute fabric. Outerwear also continues to shine, like the black pebbled leather jacket with white piping and the twill chore coats with distressed leather accents.
Denim, another one of the designer’s stalwarts, did a lot of heavy lifting in this offering. “Denim is something that I really feel strongly about,” Azrouël said. Stone-washed trousers are made of a silk-cotton blend, while others are more heavy-duty, like the indigo Japanese denim jacket with brown leather binding.
Azrouël is at his best when he embraces an unfussy, summer-in-the-city kind of energy. One highlight is the lightweight, sheer maxi dress, fashioned out of a singular piece of draped fabric. The slouchy brown leather boyfriend jacket, which he styled with lightweight denim paper bag shorts, was another strong look, emblematic of his masculine-meets-feminine ethos. It’s those hero pieces that he should continue to lean into.
