Josh Goot Resort 2015

Review by Katharine K. Zarrella
Australian designer Josh Goot is coming up on his brand's tenth anniversary, so for Resort '15 he decided to look backward for inspiration. "I felt like it was time for a palate cleanser," he said. "Once you rediscover your foundation, you can build on top of it again." Gone were the vibrant digital prints and hyper-boxy shapes of recent seasons, and in their place were easy, sporty black, white, and gray wares in soft organza, cotton, and jersey that enhanced the natural female form.

When Goot debuted his collection in 2005, it featured a range of slouchy upmarket loungewear in slinky gray fabrics. He revisited that series for Resort—though these iterations had a more sophisticated twist—and it resulted in the strongest section of the lineup. A black cotton cocktail frock with zip cargo pockets, thick grosgrain straps, and silver hardware would work for office or evening. And another black blazer-front mini with origami-like gray folds and cutouts was both relaxed and flirty.

Elsewhere, the designer referenced artist Robert Morris' minimalist works. His inspiration translated into gridded column-silhouette dresses and separates that were sharp but simple. Elongated pencil skirts, cut shorter in the back and trimmed with striped, ribbed cotton, were particularly flattering. But a sheer black gown with multiple layers of perfectly aligned gridded organza was the strongest contender for the collection's standout item. Goot showed it over some viscose boy shorts and a matching tube top, because, well, we can't all be Rihanna.

This collection was a crisp, well-balanced mix of versatile clothes for the real woman's wardrobe—save for a few sheer metal-weave silver pieces, which, while fantastic, were apparently just for editorial. Being based in Sydney comes with its challenges (the opposite selling seasons, for starters), but if Goot continues in this pared-down direction, he's sure to expand his steadily growing international following.