Continuing our coverage of New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2019 collections, here’s what we loved from Julianna Bass, BLDWN, and CUSHNIE.
Captured in front of a series of distressed pale green walls, the elegant apparel of Julianna Bass’ collection followed the idea that the naked body is the ultimate expression of transparency, encouraging wearers to shed themselves of their protective skins, face reality, and follow “O caminho do bem,” or, the path of good. Influenced by Tim Maia’s song, O caminho do bem, as well as the large-scale nude photographer, Spencer Tunick, the collection features sleek, form fitting silhouettes, and a palette of rich, warm colors that are meant to enhance the natural beauty of the wearer, allowing them to walk into the future with confidence. A highlight of the collection would have to be the purple transparent PVC trench coat with the matching umbrella and rain hat.
Photo by Taylor Jewell
Courtesy of CUSHNIE
Drawing from Jamaican culture in the late 1970s, CUSHNIE brought us a collection as vibrant and upbeat as the island itself. Showcased on a mirrored runway with a lush green backdrop, a delicious palette of colors like watermelon, lime, and cola champagne—a tropical interpretation of traditional Rastafari colors—could be seen through a variation of textures like knitwear, embroidery, satin, and denim. Informed by Beth Lesser’s photography of Jamaican street style, easy, feminine silhouettes like form-fitting dresses and bell-bottomed pants were seen throughout the collections, often accompanied by head wraps, the brand’s latest CUSHNIE handbags, or Stuart Weitzman high heels.
BLDWN’s first collection after its rebranding under new creative director, Johnathan Crocker, reinterprets modern American design. Inspired by the street photographer Mark Cohen’s close-up portraits of 1970s New York, the collection lends a nod to the era featuring attributes like wide-legged denim, varsity-inspired stripes, and a subtly patriotic palette of red, white, and navy. While the whole collection has a strong sense of classic American everyday comfort, some of our favorite looks were the gray tartan shorts and jacket set, and the khaki utility jumpsuit.
CUSHNIE Spring/Summer 2019.
