The 3.1 Phillip Lim Pre-Fall 2021 collection of casualwear is leisurely with an added anti-bacterial benefits. Each drop is named for a mantra: The first was Live Free, the second is Be Present, and the third will be With Gratitude.

Reflecting on the line’s genesis Lim described it as an effort to “merge my personal life journey with what I do professionally.”

Like many designers pre-pandemic, Lim had been experiencing the pressures of ever-quickening production schedules and the churn of trends, exacerbated by fast fashion brands and the rise of Instagram-born, direct-to-consumer brands. The simplicity of Live Free, which he began selling online in November, is a rejoinder to what he frankly calls “all that bullshit.”

The designer wanted to hold onto the purpose and function of Live Free, but imbue it with more emotion. “What would make people feel hopeful?” he asked.

Slip dresses are featured in sherbet-y shades of technical taffeta with floaty hems capture the carefree, joyful feeling of that time of year best. The collection features whimsy aesthetic, integral to the 3.1 DNA.