NYC FASHION WEEK 2022
The Best and The Buzz
Fashion week has come and gone in NYC, and this time around, it felt like things were truly getting back to normal (whatever “normal” may mean to you). Live shows were back in a big way, and several designers upped the ante by staging their Spring/Summer 2022 shows in out-of-the-box locations and debuting youthful, energetic, super-lux collections. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
MOSCHINO
For Moschino’s Spring/Summer 2022 runway, staged outdoors in Bryant Park, the Italian luxury label gave us one of the most inclusive shows we’ve ever seen. The main highlight was transgender model Aaron Philip, who has developed a close relationship with Creative Director Jeremy Scott. Philip is the first black, transgender, physically disabled person to ever be signed to an agency, and the audience cheered loudly as she made her runway debut. The collection itself was classic Moschino: colorful, whimsical, and in on its own joke. With a heavy emphasis on kids’ toys, the collection even featured a headpiece in the shape of a crib mobile, as well as some of the best gowns Scott has ever designed.
PRABAL GURUNG
Inspired by the social movements of 2020, Prabal Gurung re-envisioned feminine silhouettes for his Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Gurung played with ideas of gender identity, and forced the audience to check any tired distinctions about gender rules at the door. There was a heavy emphasis on the classic lines of American sportswear, but obviously with Gurung’s signature luxury twist. There was also an ‘80s nostalgia throughout, with bold & vibrant colors putting a contemporary spin on women’s power suits and sweatshirt dresses. The real highlights, though, were the drop waist tea dresses with dressmaker buttons.
PROENZA SCHOULER
Designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez staged Proenza Schouler’s Spring/Summer 2022 show at new Hudson River hotspot Little Island. It was perfectly timed for the sunset, with red, orange, and yellow hues emphasizing the celebration of newfound freedoms and optimism for a brighter future. The collection was quite literally a perfect checklist for what to bring on a chic summer getaway, with fine gauze jersey dresses and beading details getting us in the mood for a long vacation. Tailoring was at the heart of this collection, as was the celebration of all things handmade.
STAUD
Sarah Staudinger knows how to throw a party, and for her Spring/Summer 2022 collection, staged on the terrace of Spring Studios in Tribeca, the crowd was transported right back to Studio 54. With a giant lemon-cum-disco-ball in the center of the venue, party-ready looks made their way down the runway, with super low rises and super-cropped crop tops giving us just enough ‘70s vibes without feeling dated. There was an overall feeling of exuberance in this super-summery collection, so much so that it makes us hate the fact that it’s about to be fall.
LaQUAN SMITH
It doesn’t get much more New York than the Empire State Building, which was the location for LaQuan Smith’s Spring/Summer 2022 show. The show was definitely a sort of love letter to the internet, with ready-for-Instagram French poodles appearing on the runway and camera drones buzzing overhead. Incredibly sexy and undeniably original, Smith’s latest collection contained entirely new concepts, as well as classic Smith favorites, such as the boiled wool halter dress and his uber-popular reflective motorcycle trousers. Like Staud, Smith’s show brought us to a party, and much like the high-above-ground choice of venue, this is one designer who’s headed nowhere but up.
