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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ESCADA aquatic series). Key pieces include pencil-striped coats with matching dresses and cigarette pants worn with fortune cookie-shaped tops tied at the waist with karate-style belts. Wingate's other inspiration, of course, is the "Escadettes"—the designer's name for his loyal clients— who look to the brand to expand their wardrobes as they prepare to winter in toasty, sun-filled resorts. "They're adding some wonderfully feminine but simple shapes in vivid, fresh colors, the head-to-toe tonal ones and the white and black grouping, along with the striped pieces that bring in all colors of the collection," he says. "It's also time to be more playful with your clothes." To that end, he encourages his clientele to try a jumpsuit, belt the waist over a coat, and even experiment with a top worn back to front. The collection also borrows from the past—specifically, the custom-made mint cowl-neck gown that Kim Basinger wore when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for L.A. Confidential in 1998. Wingate has adopted the flattering neckline for a Mimosa yellow dress as well as for hip-length, waist-skimming tops with deep backs that can be worn with conservative white slacks or chic ankle-length pencil pants. And peeking out from both pants and dresses are metallic slides in silver, gold, or bronze that Wingate calls "Frank Gehry buildings for the foot." Although accessories are minimal, Escada has introduced its chic new ML40 handbag—available in eye- popping colors—to commemorate the company's upcoming 40th birthday and recognize Escada's founder, Margaretha Ley. While the 2017 resort collection has pieces reminiscent of a more unhur- ried age, when women seemed to have all the time in the world to get them- selves together, it's still as modern and polished as the woman who wears it today—one who needs to keep it stylish but without overthinking her ward- robe. For Wingate, it amounts to a simple design credo: "Be relevant." 308 Boylston St., 617-437-1200; escada.com . "IT'S AN HONOR THAT SO MANY WOMEN TURN TO ESCADA TO MAKE THEM FEEL BEAUTIFUL." —daniel wingate here and right: Daniel Wingate, a 14-year veteran of Escada who has been fashion director since 2013, inflected the 2017 resort collection with mod touches, such as blacks and whites and pencil pants. below: The color-blocked ML40 bag ($1,295). 64 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM STYLE TASTEMAKER