A jumpsuit by Michael Halpern that truly deserves applause.

The Ziegfeld Follies took centre stage as the inspiration for Halpern’s latest luxe looks.

Aswath of satin reminiscent of a sweeping curtain, shining spotlights translated into a cascade of sequins and bursts of colour akin to a swirling chorus line are the components that measure up to a truly scene-stealing look. It’s fitting, then, that Michael Halpern—who created a spectacular jumpsuit featuring all these elements for Spring 2020—looked to Barbra Streisand in her role as Fanny Brice in the movie Funny Girl as a central influence for the season.

“Fanny was the star of the Ziegfeld Follies,” Halpern explains while detailing how the extravagant designs were conceived. He recalls visiting the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York and touring its archives during the early stages of developing the collection, describing its grandeur and the patchwork-effect repairs done to older aspects of the building. He says that “the idea of replacing something old and making it more colourful” helped to inform the vivacious mix of hues seen on the bold dresses, separates and jumpsuits on his runway in London, where his brand is based.

Though a certain funny girl was top of mind when he was musing about the season, Halpern—whose runway shows have recently been attended by current red-carpet ruler Billy Porter—doesn’t typecast when it comes to who can wear his clothing. “After my team and I are done with the collection, it’s not ours anymore,” he says. “I truly believe that it’s the customer’s. The most important thing for me is that it feels exciting and authentic for whoever is wearing it—be they gender nonconforming or a man or a woman.” Or, in the words of Fanny Brice: “Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be.”