Tory Burch Goes Bicoastal

Tory Burch goes bicoastal: Relaxed collection mixes New England prep with California cool

Tory Burch has always had a bit of a split personality. She's built a billion dollar business with styles that are the epitome of East Coast preppiedom. But behind the perfect veneer, there's always an edge. Her "good girl who's ready to have a good time" vibe strikes just the right balance.

The duality was in evidence during New York Fashion Week where she showed her spring/summer 2017 collection in the pristine surroundings of the Whitney Museum of American Art while models moved to music that included the Bee Gees' "Massachusettes" and Young Thug's "Pick Up the Phone," with the "F" word repeated several times, waking up the sleepy-eyed crowd for the 9 am show.

It all seemed to make perfect sense because the collection, which Burch called "relaxed and effortless," is bicoastal, mixing preppy East Coast looks with California boho styles.

The first half is a salute to New England, where prep reigns supreme. A pink and green cardigan is matched with a garden print skirt while a navy blue jacket trimmed in white piping is paired with sailboat print pants. One nautical sweater has the word "Ahoy" emblazoned all over it and some necklaces contain pearls the size of golf balls. (They make former first lady Barbara Bush's trademark pearls look like tiny dots.)

The second half of the collection is California cool with Coachella-ready clothes — loose and colorful prairie dresses, a fringe macrame skirt worn with a suede top, and crop top and ankle-length pants in an orange and blue batik print.

It all comes together in the last look as Burch pairs a batik print tie blouse and skirt with a white cotton cardigan emblazoned with patches of the state of Maine, a lobster, a sailboat and a lighthouse.

At last, East meets West.

Tory Burch Ahoy print cotton sweater, spinnaker print cotton voile blouse, and cotton twill sailor pant.

Tory Burch spring 2017 collection look 16

Photo courtesy of Tory Burch

Tory Burch Ahoy print cotton sweater, spinnaker print cotton voile blouse, and cotton twill sailor pant.

new-york-fashion-week

ELEGANT EVOLUTION

Houston designer Christy Lynn celebrates 5 years with River Oaks pop-up

Photo by Quy Tran

The designer opened her new space with a Spring 2025 Collection fashion show.

Houston designer Christy Lynn Lee has had a whirlwind five years and is celebrating with a pop-up store in River Oaks District and a new Resort 2025 Collection. The pop-up boutique will be open through the end of February, offering shoppers curated picks from the designer's Fall/Winter 2024, Resort 2025, and the first drop of Spring 2025 on February 1.

"I wasn't looking for a pop-up during the holiday season, but the opportunity presented itself, and I made the decision within two weeks," Lee tells CultureMap. "I have a beautiful store in Memorial, and being there for over a year has taught me a lot about that part of the city. There are a lot of people that shop in River Oaks District from out of town and even internationally, and we felt we could learn a lot about those customers just by being there for the next four months."

Houston-based designer Christy Lynn Lee and her husband Christophe Chung.Photo by Quy Tran

After founding her ready-to-wear label in 2019, Lee became known for her romantic and ephemeral dresses with hand-painted floral motifs and exquisite fabrics from Italy, France, and China. In the past year, Lee has focused on evolving her brand to include more separates, knitwear, and suiting. The Resort 2025 Collection will showcase these efforts with a capsule wardrobe that is ready for holiday travel with beautiful skirts, cashmere, and embroidered treatments on leather and suede.

"The collection is available now through January, and it is holiday-inspired," said Lee. "I wanted it to feel like a transitional capsule collection, so if you are traveling for the holidays to somewhere warm or skiing, it is easy to take it away with you."

Shoppers can peruse the ready-to-wear Resort 2025 Collection at the River Oaks District pop-up. Photo courtesy of Christy Lynn

In addition to the new pop-up boutique and launch of her latest collection, Lee is celebrating five years of her eponymous brand. The designer says the first three years were the honeymoon phase, while the last two dealt with trials and tribulations. She and her business partner and husband, Christophe Chung, have been focused on sustaining the business's progress.

"The first three years we had a lot of growth. I have a store, a team here in Houston, and a team in New York, so now it is about planning for the next five years.," said Lee. "I am fortunate that I have built a really good production and design group. It is very small, but it allows me to concentrate more on the outward-facing parts of the fashion business."

Christy Lynn Lee celebrated her 5 year anniversary with a fashion show and the debut of her River Oaks District pop-up. Photo by Quy Tran

While Lee has focused on expanding nationwide and globally (she began international shipping in the last six months), she says Houston will remain her home base. The designer's atelier, warehouse, and flagship store are all in Houston, and over the past several years, Lee and her husband have built a welcoming community around them.

"We couldn't have grown so much without the support from Houston. I feel like it is my home," said Lee. "Houston embodies diversity, creativity, and opportunity. It is an international hub that offers access to a global audience while still having a fantastic local community."

Photo by Quy Tran

The designer opened her new space with a Spring 2025 Collection fashion show.

christy lynn christy lynn river oaks district christy lynn memorial boutique christy lynn collection