See Tabitha Simmons’s First Clothing Capsule for Equipment, Inspired by ’80s Suits and English Wallpaper
Tabitha Simmons x Equipment
Next year, Tabitha Simmons will celebrate a decade in the shoe business but as of right now, she has set her sights on brand new territory. The designer has teamed up with shirting label Equipment on a 17-piece capsule collection of blouses, dresses, and suit separates cut from soft silks and rich velvets, all of which are available now on the Equipment website and in the brand’s stores. The line also includes two shoes, a suede pointed toe flat and a leather ankle bootie.
This venture is Simmons’s first foray into ready-to-wear, but according to Sarah Rutson, chief brand officer of Equipment’s parent company The Collected Group, the collaboration felt quite natural. “The fact that Tabitha wanted a tailored Prince of Wales check suit and a velvet spencer jacket to balance out the femininity of the dresses and blouses is very much where our brand sits,” she says. “It’s about classic, timeless design with masculine meets feminine vibe.”
Simmons looked to muses like Charlotte Rampling in a tweed suit and to ’90s club kid culture. Power suits from the ’80s were a big reference point, as well, and as Simmons explains, was “the initial inspiration behind the collection.” As always, Simmons also pulled from her “English heritage, so as to balance out that more masculine side. I took inspiration from traditional English wallpaper print to make everything a bit more feminine.”
Equipment has always been known for its monochromatic silk shirting, but with Simmons lending a hand, there is a subtle bohemian flair at play. "Equipment is a brand that I have always admired, as it's really rooted in classic and useful pieces that transcend trends," Simmons says. "I love all of their classic shapes and styles, so I wanted to stay aligned with the brand's DNA but add elements that made it feel specific to my aesthetic. I really wanted to create a line that I was excited to wear."
