Let Phillip Lim Up Your Cool Factor For Fall '16

It's the wardrobe everyone in the room wished they were wearing. That may be the best way to sum up Phillip Lim's Fall 2016 collection. The designer presented to a (not surprisingly) packed house, despite the snow outside on Monday in Manhattan. When the lights went up on the industrial set, the clothes were as cool as the space — no, cooler. And I don't use that term lightly. "Cool" is surely overused, when really, it's the best way to speak to Lim's craft. The designer's brand seems built on that vibe.

This season, it manifests in '70s shades, velvet, a touch of metallic, and a pop of pink. The uniform is fresh, but familiar — you'll find the core leather pieces, live-in booties (this time in a mod velvet or patent finish), and stellar outerwear: a leather trench, fur-trimmed plaid duffel coat, and plenty of textured, fuzzy jackets. But the real stars are the subtleties: lacing on a longline vest, quilted kimono-style jackets, and the way knits are braided or tied on to themselves. As always, it's the details that set the Lim customer apart from the other girls on the quest for "cool clothes."