On My Radar: Protagonist Fall 2015, Timeless Luxury with a Twist

If you like The Row and Celine, this brand is a godsend! Kate Wendleborn’s Protagonist debuted at New York Fashion Week this season, and I am in love... The classic collection included; Elongated pencil skirts, relaxed but fitted dresses, nearly opera-length gloves, double breasted coats, slinky slip dresses, and one and only one printed coat, because you only need one this season. This season Kate  introduced denim into the line—it's the kind you’ll need if you have a closet full of turtlenecks and super long, vaguely menswear-inspired coats. There is something special about this collection, it serves simple timeless luxury with a modern twist.

In an interview after the presentation, Wendelborn noted that Protagonist's very first category, shirting, continues to be its bestselling, along with trousers. Last season, she sold her very first coat (a fluid trench style in gray), and this season she expanded her outerwear offerings considerably. She also introduced denim for the first time, light and medium-washed pairs that she ripped apart and put back together, sometimes with asymmetrical hems.

When asked about the lack of print and pattern in her collection — there was just one, in the form of a striking coat in checkerboard white and navy that was patterned together piece by piece — Wendelborn admitted that she had experimented with a number of prints, but they just weren't right. "I know everyone wants me to say [I'll do more prints]," she said. "But I'm not really a print person at all."