Traditional American leisurewear was born out of practicality. Taking its lead from the sports that its wearers followed, American sportswear quickly became leisurewear - an off-duty style movement that formed the backbone of the American fashion industry. Rethinking conventions, womenswear designer Adam Lippes embodies the comfort and affluence that made leisurewear popular, translating it for the contemporary woman’s everyday.
Behind the scenes at the Malone Souliers x Adam Lippes presentation, AW16
Preppy leisurewear, manicured gardens, hand-painted ceramics; Lippes’ inspirations are well-mannered and classical, elevated by his second-to-none finishes. His eponymous label values quality above all else. At the head of a scrupulously monitored, worldwide supply chain of the finest fabric mills, craftsmen and ateliers, the brand’s structure mirrors that of Malone Souliers. Aesthetics are important, but design has to function.
Malone Souliers and Adam Lippes were a match made in couturier heaven - these shoes weren’t just made for the runway, they were for women out living their lives. The collaboration had its own unique label, a harmonic blend of both logos representing a truly balanced relationship of equal effort. These rare designs are shoes to truly treasure; if you got your hands on a piece of this collaboration, don’t let it out of your sight.
"Adam designs for real women - which takes a lot of guts, and my feeling is the same about shoes. I want people to be able to live their lives in these shoes." - Mary Alice Malone
Rethinking traditions is in Malone Souliers’ DNA. Mary Alice Malone studied traditional men’s shoe craftsmanship at the unrivalled Cordwainers school in London, adapting techniques learned there to her highly feminine, playful designs. Every collaborative shoe was made in Italy, crafted at factories with which Malone Souliers has a long-established relationship and repartee. “Malone Souliers are brilliant colourists,” states Lippes. Fun is imbued within both brands, offering women a freedom of expression through colour, form and detail that is uplifting and empowering.
Mary Alice Malone and Adam Lippes at the collaboration presentation, SS17
Malone Souliers x Adam Lippes collections flaunted paintbox hues across innovative shapes which subtly hinted at classicism. Viewing the collections was akin to walking through the main gallery of a prestigious art institution. Classical paintings catch the eye; flashes of Bottocalian hues and ornamental details - think square buckles, fan-like pleating and wrap-around lacing upon cobalt blue, slate and dusty salmon pink. These stand-out details quickly established themselves as collectable signatures.
Malone Souliers x Adam Lippes, SS17
At Malone Souliers, each Malone Souliers x Adam Lippes collection was sold as a capsule alongside the brand’s core collection. It was also sold at Adam Lippes’ showroom in Madison Square Park, New York, alongside the luxurious, intricate clothing it was designed to complement. In both showrooms, either side of the Atlantic, quality is sold above all else. It is this thoughtful, intimately researched level of quality that makes bold colour timeless, makes playful styles possible everyday, and that turns collaborative visions into collectors’ items.
