This season, Joie—a brand synonymous with femininity—changed things up a bit. “This time, I wanted to do things I’ve never done before,” said creative director and CEO Serge Azria. That meant suits. Instead of borrowed-from-the-boys silhouettes and fabrics, though, Azria opted for tennis-stripe white linen with an easy, casual fit. Paired with basic tees, the softly structured blazers and cropped pants felt right at home alongside Joie’s more familiar breezy dresses and looked effortlessly chic with strappy sandals and low-top sneakers alike.
Tennis was a major influence throughout the collection, but not the kind we’ve seen at the U.S. Open this week. “I was thinking about Palm Springs in the 1950s and ’60s,” Azria said, pointing to a chiffon dress in a pastel watercolor print, a pleated white skort (inspired by the classic tennis mini), and a flared dress in polo-shirt piqué. “It’s sporty, but still feminine.” The Joie customer keeps up with trends, so Azria paired sneakers and chunky sandals with everything from an ice blue suede dress (one of the collection’s standout pieces) to a beachy eyelet tunic. His take on the Birkenstock—a leather X-strap sandal in metallic silver—made even the slinkiest cutout frock feel a little more relaxed.