Apiece Apart Fall 2022 Ready-to-Wear Collection

With Starr Hout now based in upstate New York, and Laura Cramer in Austin, Texas, the Apiece Apart duo found themselves grappling with two very different surroundings and climates—and they wanted to craft a collection that reflects their different wardrobe needs. “As designers, we have to really think about different geographies now,” said Hout, with Cramer adding, “It’s been a big boon for our design process.”

Hout also recently took a trip to Copenhagen, and the city’s vibrant street style scene inspired experiments with punchy colors. The results include cozy knits in sprightly turquoises, or baggy trousers in a darker redwood hue. For their assortment of basics, they enjoyed the idea of juxtaposing unlikely shapes and shades together, just like the Danes do. “We brought together concepts of hard and soft, masculine and feminine,” said Cramer.

All of the pieces are built for function and versatility. A herringbone wool jacket, for instance, can be worn three ways: solo as a bomber, detached as a vest, or fastened together for more of a layered look. A gray knit turtleneck poncho is also multi-purpose: It can be worn loose over the body, or with the hem wrapped around the neck, like a scarf. They say this pragmatic approach stems from their own busy lives. “Being moms, we need a wardrobe of simple pieces that truly work—but it doesn’t have to be boring,” said Hout.

With sustainability always a focus, the duo said that 99% of the collection was made using natural, organic, or recycled fabrics. A chic drape skirt in cream, for instance, was constructed using a fiber made of biodegradable cellulose. Some of their signatures, like cotton-poplin smock dresses and gauzy cut-out dresses, returned. They also modernized pants, their best-selling item; a slouchy cotton-linen trouser felt of the moment, as did the green leather pants with a tapered bottom. “We wanted to create a foundation of design that really truly supports women’s lives, so she can go anywhere and do anything,” said Hout. “Pieces that she can wear the hell out of.”