Our Favorite Runway Looks Reflecting the New Normal
Fashion Month looks different this September, but these designers have chosen to celebrate the new normal with their latest masked collections and dreamy lookbooks.
Eckhaus Latta Spring 2021 Ready-To-Wear :
Eckhaus and Zoe Latta erred on the side of simplicity with loose-fitting knits, baggy jeans, and delicate patchwork. The earthy tones, in addition to bare makeup and the lack of soundtrack, gave their show a casual and slowed feel, perfectly mirroring the times.
Christian Siriano Spring 2021 Ready-To-Wear :
Siriano wanted his Spring 2021 collection to “be an escape for everybody—fantasy, to have fun with fashion,” and he did not disappoint (Vogue.com). The designer filled the show with ruffles, winged sleeves, asymmetrical hems, and bold colors and patterns, all inspired by the 80s and 90s. Among these looks, a dress with matching accessories shouting “VOTE” caught our attention. Siriano took a moment from fantasy to get real and remind us to get to the polls in November!
Bora Aksu Spring 2021 Ready-To-Wear :
Bora Aksu’s latest collection draws inspiration from World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic. The London-based designer wanted his show to express hope, imagination, and life, and he did this with pastel hues and airy silhouettes. Aksu has kept a positive outlook throughout the year, and looks forward to the brighter future awaiting us.
Ermenegildo Zegna Spring 2021 Menswear :
On Zegna’s pre-recorded show set in mills and factories, journalist Luke Leitch from Vogue writes how the models “passed through antique wooden-drawered archives of fabrics past, and through the massed ranks of spinning machines set to weave the fabrics of the future,” (Vogue.com). This is a sentiment towards Zenga’s recent efforts to reduce fabric waste at his facilities, as he and many designers today are collaborating with the global push for positive environmental change. The fabric isn’t the only sustainable aspect of his collection. Deconstructed suits and relaxed shirt-jackets are a few examples of garments that could be worn throughout multiple seasons and for multiple uses.
Maisie Wilen Spring 2021 Ready-To-Wear :
Although the thought of straying away from live runway shows may seem daunting and ineffective to designers, Maisie Wilen was not fazed by the transition to the digital world. She’s been preparing for it with her strong online presence and loyal following. As Jenelle Okwodu writes, “Wilen compensated… by presenting textures bold enough to be understood without touch. The tinfoil crinkle of her silver segment was so apparent you could almost feel it,” (Vogue.com). The glittered embellishments, metallic prints, and synthetic shine showcased in front of a snowy mountain backdrop contributed to “hints of fantastical femininity” that Wilen wanted her looks to emit beyond the photographs (Okwodu, Vogue.com).
Off-White Resort 2021 :
Abloh released his Resort 2021 collection via a minimalistic lookbook with playful colorblocking and androgynous silhouettes. The models’ copy-and-paste poses emphasized Abloh’s sharp tailoring and structure. Abloh has been adamant about supporting black businesses through his clothing line, and his recent Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund has raised $1 million towards the education of young African Americans. His innovation and drive towards a better world should be motivating for us all, and as Abloh himself states, “the role of the designer these days should be—and is—different,” (Vogue.com).
Graphics by Savannah Fordham
Source: Vogue Runway
https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows