A voyage of self-discovery and independence is at the core of Longchamp’s Fall/Winter 2019 collection. For her second show at New York Fashion Week, Creative Director Sophie Delafontaine captures the free-spirited energy of travelers, women who rove the globe with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude and a wardrobe to match. Particular focus is placed on the distance between Paris and New York, which is visualized with a runway inspired by Andrée Putman and the carpet she designed for the Concorde and a 40-look collection combines the distinct auras of these transatlantic cities.
The Parisian woman’s effortless femininity is realized in billowy silk dresses and pleated skirts in embroidered tulle or wool gauze. They are juxtaposed with crisp black leather tops and architectural coats that are made from graphic or Apaloosa prints indicative of New York’s urbanity. Even the details, like grosgrain ribbons with vivid silver studs, are a seamless blend of elegance and a rock edge. This melding of contrasts, this mixing and matching of textures, silhouettes and patterns gives each look a sense of individuality and dynamism.
During the winter when the flowers are sleeping, Carolina Herrera is in bloom. The fall 2019 collection brings a garden of colour that enlivens even the grayest of days. Just as the Carolina Herrera woman transforms her settings with vibrant sophistication, the collection comes to life for a fleeting moment on a chilly February morning inside New York’s first museum within a hothouse of beautiful flowers.
Informed by the minimal poise and maximal drama of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s floral still lifes, the collection exudes the sublime presence of a bold spirit. Mapplethorpe is an indelible figure to the Herrera story, having taken some of the most beloved portraits of Carolina. His depiction of florals expresses the sensual magnetism and grace of a woman, celebrating the ultimate beauty of nature.
For Fall 2019, STAUD hits the discotheque. Inspired by the nerve of some of fashion’s most exploratory eras— the movers and shakers of the ‘70s and ‘90s—our latest collection is fit for those who aren’t afraid to start the party (and finish it). Pearls and plaids, Japanese organza, mushroom-printed satin, cotton velvets, sequins, mesh, and more challenge the restraint of sensual silhouettes and set them free. In STAUD’s world, fashion means clothes that move you—but clothes that you can move in, too. Because style after-hours means a prairie dress, floral velvets, and baby blue hues as much as it does the short and shiny. Front row guests included Molly Sims, Emily DiDonato, Harley & Rio Viera Newton, Laura Love, musician Matt Hitt, actors Justin Bartha and Dan Amboyer and bloggers including Susie Lau, Leandra Medine, Caroline Daur, Tamu McPherson, Xenia Adonts, Charlotte Groeneveld, Reese Blutstein, Maria Alia and more.
