Tribal
Tribal clothing at OSO Boutique is led by the trousers, which is fitting for a label that began as a trouser company. The Montreal brand has been designing womenswear since 1977, and trousers are still where we think it is strongest. The edit here runs to wide leg cord, embroidered wide leg jeans, patterned knitwear and half zip mock neck tops.
Start with the bottom half. The Dark Basil is a fine wale corduroy in a deep green, cut wide from a high waist, long enough to sit over a boot without bunching and tidy enough to hold a press after a day at a desk. The Audrey is the wide leg jean, a clean mid blue with a band of paisley embroidery running down the outside of each leg, which does enough decorating that the rest of an outfit can stay plain.
On top, the half zip mock neck tops do the everyday work. Bonded fabric that keeps its shape after a wash, roomy through the body, a drawcord at the hem and pockets set into the side seams deep enough to be useful, in basil green and a mushroom taupe. The knitwear is warmer going, including a navy crew neck patterned with cream and rust diamonds across the yoke and hem, brushed soft and easy over a shirt.
There is a lighter side to it as well. A cream floral lace blouse that buttons the whole way down and wears over a camisole, a printed dolman sleeve top in cobalt, rust and magenta that shakes out of a suitcase, and a checked cocoon coat in olive and brown with room underneath for a jumper.
Tribal is a family business, started in Montreal in 1977 by Leonard Berall and now run with his sons, built through independent and specialty shops. The brand describes who it designs for as women who want to look their best while enjoying life's adventures in comfort and style, which turns out to be a fair description of how the clothes fit: room through the shoulder, room in the leg, nothing that needs holding in.
Sizing runs S to L across the tops and knitwear, with some styles starting at XS, and UK 8 to 14 on the trousers and jeans. It is easy clothing to wear, which is really the point of it. The same trousers take you through a day at your desk and out to lunch with friends without a change of plan. Come and try Tribal on at 14 High Street, Salisbury, or shop the edit online with UK delivery.
