Notes From The Design Director
From trend inspiration to our brilliant design director, Emma Rossi’s, must-have investments for the season ahead, our Notes By series is a chance for you to hear from the RI experts themselves. This is our brand new autumn collection, as told by Emma Rossi.
Summarise RI’s new season trends in a few words.
What were your inspirations for the latest Autumn Winter collection?
The RI Design Team has been obsessed with film this season, in particular Cassino and Scarface, which really draw on sexy power dressing which is the ultimate antidote to the quiet luxury we saw last year.
The other big inspiration was the most recent Copenhagen street style which tends to affect everything we do. It’s all about that mash up and the irreverence of mixing and having fun in a preppy way.
Finally, kitchen sink Sixties dramas were a huge inspiration for us alongside the Biba exhibition at the Fashion and Textile museum. Looking back at those iconic David Bailey black and white shots from the sixties too.
Is there one item in particular that showcases the brand's signature style this season?
It has to be our leopard print jacquard three quarter length sartorial coat. It’s editorial, sexy and sharp, all in one. Throw it over to update any autumn/winter classic, to give it a new spin, you can dress it in so many different ways.
What shoe do you plan to wear to death this month?
The thong kitten heel. Kitten heels in general are the shoe of the season.
What’s your number one preppy staple?
The jort. I want them in denim, tailored, anyway they come. You can dress them up and dress them down. Wear them with a kitten heel or a boot.
What is one thing you invest in every September?
It’s always the ultimate piece of knit. Either in the key colour or print of the season that I can wear with any of my trusty denim pieces. This season, I want to invest in the cardigan whether that’s neat or oversized.
Checks or stripes?
It’s like choosing a favourite child. I love both but I’m going to say checks first and then move into stripes for transitional season because they’re going to be huge for spring.
And finally, what is your favourite piece from the entire autumn edit and why?
The short brown fur coat is going straight into my basket. Who are you this season if you don’t have a (faux) fur coat?! I can use it to dress more Preppy or Mob Wife depending on how I feel on the day. For a preppy moment, style with jorts and chunky boots or a pleated mini skirt with socks and loafers.