In a strange twist, Patrik Ervell apparently felt the need to push the spring season a little bit ahead to fall. With the exception of some beautifully bleeding watercolor shirts (a la Hawaiian shirts), a windbreaker, a smidgen of khaki, a dash of fire-engine red and one pair of summer shorts, the collection was made up of mostly dark suits and jackets in navy and earth tones that suggested more back to school than school’s out.

The straight clean lines set off the collection, at times evoking an academic or parochial look. Cute little British boy caps seemed modern yet not too serious. This was also Ervell’s first season designing women’s. This spring, well-constructed formal ensembles will be going uptown, downtown and everywhichwaytown—for those stylish women you see everywhere.