Fashion Week Dispatch: Part 2
Noooo you're so sexy aha.
On Wednesday night at Luar—one of the last shows of New York Fashion Week—I sat next to a friendly British bloke who seemed a bit lost. He told me he had “a toe” in the fashion world, but was more just a tourist happy to be in the mix.
“What do you think?” I asked, referring to the scene in general.
“Oh, it’s hilarious,” he said. “But in a beautiful way.”
I appreciated this read. We kept chatting, since the show was running fashionably late. He wanted to brainstorm with me some examples of people with *real* style. “I like that guy, oh, what’s his name?” he said. “You know…?”
I did not know. “He’s a musician with dreads…”
I told him I was going to need more than that.
“Fuck! What’s his name!” He pounded his head, trying to remember.
I was on the edge of my seat.
“Oh!” he said, grabbing my arm. “LENNY KRAVITZ!”
Was this man my future husband? Unfortunately for me, he did not seem to be in urgent need of a wife. But when it came to Lenny Kravitz, we were on the same page.
Lenny Kravitz does a lot of things right. He wears what he likes, (leather), and what fits his body best, (tight, flared silhouettes, and sometimes nothing), and does not deviate. Ever. Lenny Kravitz is also sexy. So when this handsome man whose name I didn’t catch brought him up, I thought, God, that’s what’s been missing from my New York Fashion Week: I needed to see something sexy!!!
Thankfully, Luar delivered. Designed by Raul Lopez, who co-founded Hood by Air and grew up hanging out with New York’s voguing community, the brand has a distinctly New York sexiness to it, in that it works hard, plays hard, and is a little bit cocky. This season’s collection was its most refined to date, with looks that push the boundaries of “black tie.” One of my favorite details was a shirt collar that extended dramatically in the back, as though someone was tugging the wearer from behind. Of course, models (and everyone in the audience) also toted Luar’s signature bags, which are smooth on the surface and sharp around the edges, with a large round handle that resembles a diamond ring.
Puppets and Puppets, a label designed by Carly Mark, (whose aversion to pants I really admire), gives off a similarly twisted sex appeal. Like Luar, the brand has had the most success with its handbags, which are adorned with lifelike pieces of food made of resin, including bananas and chocolate-chip cookies. On Wednesday afternoon, the show included a banana holster bag, and models also walked the runway chewing fabric. I’m actually sexily chewing my shirt collar as I write this—a disgusting habit that I’m so glad is now in style.
I wasn’t at the Willy Chavarria show, which took place in the lobby of the Woolworth building that same day, but from what I can tell, it brought some much-needed romance to NYFW. Chavarria is also a New Yorker, and he seems to understand that blending in will not get you laid in this town. “We wanted to avoid quiet luxury at all costs,” he told Vogue. Thank God. Nothing kills a person’s sex drive quite like the phrase “quiet luxury.”
Some brands offered what I’m going to call “quiet romance,” instead—less look at me, more a tempting whisper in your ear. Going through Connor McKnight’s lookbook images, for example, taken by @durimel in what appears to be Prospect Park, I swoooooned over the natural lightness of everything. Nothing was forced. (A reminder that day dates are sometimes the best kind.)
Kallmeyer hosted a power breakfast in the fancy new dining room at Nine Orchard on Wednesday morning, and there was some serious BDE in the room thanks to the presence of Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) and Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That), both of whom looked incredible.
The brand sent me its “Beau” button-down shirt and matching tie to wear, but I realized on my way out the door that I actually had no idea how to tie it. Thankfully, designer Daniella Kallmeyer helped me as soon as I arrived, and the speed and precision with which she grabbed my neck and fashioned the most perfect knot was hands down the hottest thing I witnessed all week.
As for the clothes, the spring collection is effortlessly seductive in a way that feels both more attainable for every day and aspirationally crush-able. A double-layer white tank top worn with no bra, for example, offers not only an update to a timeless sexii classic, but also an easy way to get your local barista’s attention. Stylist Beverly Nguyen threw in some thin Old Navy and square-toe Havaianas flip-flops for all you foot fetishists out there as well. (
called it!)
Of course, there was so much more to see and talk about this week, but that’s a wrap for me. This weekend, I look forward to sleeping 20-30 hours, doing my laundry, and eating food that isn’t takeout. I was so inspired, though, I scheduled three dates for next week. Three! Should I wear a banana holster over my tank top with no bra??
What I Wore All Week
Ninety-percent of it is from sample sales and secondhand sites. So, unfortunately, you can’t have it!!! But I’ve listed it all out below just in case you’re interested in what keywords I search, like ‘boatneck’ and ‘T-strap,’ and which past Prada collections I spend hours looking for. Admin reveal!
Slide 1: Uniqlo button down + Prada SS21 skirt + Prada FW19 bag + Mansur Gavriel ballet flats
Slide 2: Hanes boys tank tops + Prada SS13 skirt + Prada T-strap heels
Slide 3: Saint Laurent velvet bow tie + Wolford button-up/bodysuit (taking this to the dry cleaner is always mortifying) + Prada tuxedo pants + Prada heels + Alaïa ‘Le Coeur’ bag
Slide 4: Agnès b. snap cardigan + Prada SS22 skort + Alaïa cutout Mary-Janes
Slide 5: The Row boatneck scuba dress + Prada bag + Toteme flats *don’t buy these they destroyed my feet
Slide 6: Miu Miu romper + Uniqlo men’s non-iron shirt + Prada shoes
Slide 7: Kallmeyer ‘Beau’ button-down shirt + Posse linen shorts
Slide 8: Prada sweater + Uniqlo pleated pants + Prada FW12 shoes (I found them for you!)
Earrings throughout: Sophie Buhai ball drop earrings
What I’m Listening To
When the music video for this song came out in 2005, I thought it was the sexiest thing in the whole entire world. I even taught myself the chair dance break, you know, just in case…
Every Friday, I think I’m going to suggest a different song to get dressed-up to. Pretty soon, we’ll have a full Getting Ready Playlist. What do you think?
NEXT WEEK: Get in, we’re going shopping.
