Same But Different

The colorful adventure began with Saint Sintra’s debut collection, inspired by her favorite children’s book in which the kids of the town bring color back after it was stolen. The makeup was playful and you guessed it, vibrant. Sintra brought edgy couture to the Manhattan nightclub location’s basement runway, which was decorated in a jungle meets funfair theme. And Sintra brought another element to the experience – an hour of cell phone free time due to the lack of reception. 

Childhood too, was the inspiration behind Snow Xue Gao’s Spring/Summer ’22 collection that pays tribute to the namesake designer’s heritage and her family. In Snow Xue Gao’s early years, she spent time losing herself in her grandmother’s garden. Color-blocking and patterns in fabrics such as charmeuse were heavily prominent. Asymmetrical and deconstructed designs completed the collection’s relaxed yet tailored aesthetic. The presentation’s visual set-up included media art creating a dynamic and memorable experience. A free-style piano performance offered an aural interpretation of Snow Xue Gao’s childhood.

Traveling predominated as a theme this season, undoubtedly a result of its long hiatus from our pandemic lives.

Many designers took on the new normal with ready-to-wear collections featuring themes à la red carpet and nightlife, with nature as an omnipresent inspiration.

Rodarte debuted dresses of sheer lace, dripping beads, silk floral prints and sunset hues in a Manhattan courtyard, surrounded by large cacti and stone sculptures. The open-air location invited the wind, billowing the elegantly draped fabrics as if on cue.

Thom Browne’s makeup was also inspired by nature.  Some model’s faces were airbrushed with shimmering floral ornament and others masked with strategically placed clay strokes resembling cracked earth. The American designer known for his tailored suits presented a gender fluid collection embracing the androgynous character of the line.

Tom Ford brought the Californian lifestyle to the runway. Garments embodied the need to be seen, evident by the bright colors and unconventional silhouettes for both men and women.

This season, New York Fashion Week’s grand finale was presented by the designer duo “The Blonds”. Driven by the future of entertainment and luxury space traveling, the designers launched the audience gathered at the Times Square nightclub on a cosmic galaxy trip. The Blonds are known for their extravagant shows and clothes and this one was no exception. David Blond name-checked musicians Bodine and Lion Babe as inspirations, including them as models and performers in the runway show. “I think we need to realize that fashion is now becoming its own entertainment platform, much like a concert or a sports game,” said the designer.