Like many other designers in New York City, Sandy Liang has been hit by the tariffs. But she isn’t letting that dampen her spirits; her resort collection is as light-hearted and fun as ever. Nostalgia seems to work well for Liang, and she often references specific childhood memories in her collections. This season it was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—and one episode in particular, when Will dresses up as a sunflower alongside elementary schoolers as part of a graduation requirement. Not surprisingly, Liang’s version is a lot cuter and a bit more practical than the TV one—Liang’s balaclavas are easily removable and even have a hole in the back for a ponytail to stick out. They also make a perfect set when paired with some of her technical jumpsuits made of the same spandex fabrication.
But with Liang’s collections, while the most fun can be found at some of the more Instagrammable pieces, the real bestsellers come down to the basics. Classic polo shirts come oversized and with contrasting built-in sleeves so that you don’t actually have to wear two layers to achieve the layered look, while what looks like a simple baby tee has a built-in bikini bra so you can go braless. Matching sets do well for the brand, and this season they got a cozier treatment.
“Resort and high summer is always a more realistic season,” said Liang. “You don’t have to do all the razzle dazzle of a runway show, but you can have fun with the details.” At market week the designer found that one of the most popular pieces amongst her team and buyers was an oversized sweater: Liang’s version comes with an elasticized waistband that you can cinch up so it gives the illusion of a two-piece set, as well as providing a more flattering fit for those who may be petite like Liang. “A lot of us wear our sweaters more cinched anyways, we want to tuck it in and feel flattered even without a belt,” explained the designer.
And it always comes back to motherhood for Liang. The designer recently celebrated her son Rainer’s first birthday, and the toddler is already making a mark on the downtown cool brand. Not only is a drawing of his face on the back of some of the T-shirts in the collection, but some pieces were influenced by the outfits he wears. A jersey cardigan skirt set is what Liang describes as just a “blown-up version,” of what her son wears. Giving it that signature Liang touch, the set is adorned with a cute kitten print on a faded blue fabrication for a lived-in and hand–me-down touch.
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