Black Panther fever hits NY Fashion Week
Marvel Studios brought Black Panther fever to New York Fashion Week, inviting designers to showcase clothes inspired by the iconic movie, already winning rave reviews ahead of its Friday release in the United States.
More than a thousand people packed the Welcome to Wakanda presentation in the West Village that featured the work of 10 labels, including Chromat, Cushnie et Ochs and LaQuan Smith.
“The inspiration for me was female empowerment,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that really just connected to the characters and the film … embodying power, and femininity, and strength and sensuality.”
Reviews following Monday’s premiere of the movie that stars Hollywood’s first black superhero to get his own stand-alone film were electric, calling the picture “iconic” and “astonishing”.
“I think what made Black Panther more fashionable than other superhero films was really about the cast, the attitude that the cast really embodies,” said Smith.
“I hope it inspires young boys and young girls.”
American fashion elder statesman Ralph Lauren escaped to Jamaica in troubled times, both politically and business-wise, for spring, his latest collection adhering to a see-now, buy-now concept.
On a drab February morning, the 78-yearold transported his guests to a set evoking his stunning villa in Jamaica with a blue infinity-pool effect runway watched by actresses Hilary Swank and Rachel Brosnahan.
It opened with a calypso Caribbean beat as models walked bare foot dressed in delicate blue and white floral dresses with full skirts and flirty necklines, before Bella Hadid strode out in a denim cocktail dress with feather finish and clothes segued into classic maritime.
But if the show was a master class in the rags-to-riches designer’s unique, clean silhouette that for decades has personified upmarket East Coast style, it remains unclear whether his quintessential blueprint can help revive sales in an industry so beloved of change.
The company announced on Feb 1 that companywide third quarter revenue fell 4% to US$1.6 billion (50 billion baht), despite seeing growth in the Asia and European markets.
Sales at its North American stores fell 10% during the crucial holiday season quarter, including a 27% decrease in e-commerce.
Duchess of Cambridge favourite, Britain’s Jenny Packham unveiled a stunning collection of Cosmos-inspired evening wear via curated photo shoot following private appointments with retailers and the press.
Her i nspiration was t he Cosmos — the stars and galaxies, and the themes of Ridley Scott’s dystopian Blade Runner — showcasing a timeless, elegant silhouette beloved by her well-heeled client base.
Beaded gowns were covered in crystal star bursts, crescent moons twinkled on tulle and delicate capes offered more modest women a cover-up.
Unusually for Packham, black, capitalised on the red carpet trend this awards season to protest against sexual harassment.
“I do think perhaps it’s a little bit of escapism, a sort of an other worldly experience at the moment because we’re all a bit fed up,” said Packham of the cosmic theme.
While she plans to show in London in September to mark the 30th anniversary of her label, she has been pleased with her appointment roll-out, now done two seasons running, instead of a catwalk show.
Packham said she wanted her London show to be “forward thinking” as the brand looks to the future, now expanding into China.