New York Fashion Week: Cushnie
Image Courtesy: Zimbio
Fashion Gurus idolize the glitz and glam of creativity. For designers and fashion lovers across the world, the glamour is met at New York Fashion Week, one of the many meccas of the fashion industry. With Fashion Week underway, we can expect to see hundreds of designs showcasing this year’s Fall collections, all within the parameters of the “not so warm but promising” spring season in the concrete jungle itself. This year’s show features over 50 designers, but despite the progress of diversity seen on the runway, only nine Black designers are officially listed on NYFW calendar. This proves the need for recognition of Black designers and the inclusion of their labels.
That being said, a few of Black fashion designers will no doubt turn heads during New York Fashion Week, each deserving of their plights during Black History Month. One such designer, Carly Cushnie plans to make strives after rebranding her line in 2017, following the exit of co-founder Michelle Ochs. She reigns as both CEO and creative director of her label, Cushnie. The ready-to-wear collection focuses on a clean, sophisticated take on femininity, alluring a wide audience while garnishing First Lady Michelle Obama and many other phenomenal women. Her take on denim during her Spring 2019 reveal left critics and fashion-lovers alike wondering what her Fall collection would unveil.
Carly Cushnie featured pretty collection, taking inspiration from the styles of Twenties’ designer Paul Poiret. She focused on sensual but chic evening attire complete with an array of slip dresses and pant suits, adorned with plush velvet, floral patterns, accent stripes and silks. Spotlighting the idea of “business sexy”, the pieces feature deep necklines and thigh length cut offs all showing the perfect amount of skin. Intricate embroideries enhanced the designs, while the art of draping echoed a Japanese influence. Suits were modernly constructed with body cropped jackets and flare pants that enhanced women’s curves, with fur coats to accredit the winter weather.
The lineup evolved the elegant feminine style to one of heightened poise and stature. The collection revealed hues of a sunrise, with deep purple and blue tones transitioning to the winter burgundies, as well as classic black. With the upbeat music, models went from business sexy to night on the town, sporting metallic, luscious lavender, and canary reds. The last model closed the show the same way it had begun, with a signature cobalt blue. Models were styled with statement frills and tassels, drop diamond earrings, and the occasional clutch.
Cushnie made sure to include several models of color, some of which confidently strode the runway in their natural fros and curls, plus models included showed off their curves in airy silks. Cushnie entire collection portrayed a sophisticated aesthetic, expanding both daywear and nightwear alike while still including the glamorous charisma associated with anything New York and everything Fashion.
Strike Out,
Writer: Kamari Pless
Editor: Savannah Tindall
Tallahassee