Designer Aaron Potts was up until the wee hours this morning, just hours before his new fall collection was unveiled during Men’s Day. He was putting the final touches on his new pieces, including hand-splattering one of his graphic nylon ponchos. That spontaneous, up-to-the-minute energy is precisely what drove his new assortment of genderless clothes. “I wanted to focus on my customers, who I’ve realized are creative professionals,” said Potts. “I wanted to create clothes they could actually use—they’re easy to dress up or down, and are still fierce.”
Given his line always focuses on a genderless, inclusive spirit, many of the silhouettes and pieces lent themselves to being easily styled this season. There were slouchy leather crewnecks with matching wide-leg trousers, and cotton jumpsuits with drop crotches and a zipped-up front. These were all based on classic wardrobe staples, but had just enough details to make them feel more interesting. The cozy knit-bouclé jumpsuit, with extra-wide sleeves and pant legs, would be ideal for the snowy conditions New York has recently experienced—like a wearable snuggly blanket, as Potts described it.
The color palette was kept relatively neutral—“that felt fresh to me,” said Potts—in shades or brown, black, and gray. “The term I keep saying lately is editing,” he said. But what Potts lacked in vibrant hues, he tried to make up for in unexpected textures and combinations. One of his tank maxi dresses, for example, featured a wool upper, but a leather skirt paneled in brown and black stripes.
The more Potts leaned into the fun and whimsy, however, the better. The intention of the collection may have been to offer wearability, but it was clear that Potts shines best when he creates quirkier, more unexpected offerings. His real winner was a black tee adorned with multicolor felt dots, draped asymmetrically across it like a sash, and cascading down like rainbow fringes. It was one of his wildest and most memorable offerings. The whimsical bowed hats models wore were made by one of his interns in-house, and reflected the collection’s spirit of youthful energy. Potts should not shy away from getting a little weird: He does it well.
