New York’s Spring Studios may have been dripped in white backdrops during NYFW, but the flavor was anything but bland during LaQuan Smith’s Fall/Winter 2020 show. Presented alongside the launch of the new Moët & Chandon Limited-Edition Signature bottlings, the edgy but benevolent designer presented all-black looks that would make any fast fashion soldier switch over to the luxurious side.
Puffer jackets with skirts to match arrived down the runaway with baggy tracksuits, giving the audience an array of looks for the cozy girl all the way down to the trendy posh woman. Speaking with VIBE backstage, Smith shared how the importance of confident women inspired his recent unveiling. “I just wanted to do something that was super confident and really progressive,” he explained. “I think that I have a really true sense of who my woman is at this point so right now I’m really having fun being able to design for a woman who is super comfortable in her own skin. This strong sense of elegance, glamour, and confidence is like the woman that I’m designing for so that was sort of the mood and the attitude for this season’s collection.”
The conscious mix of a free spirit and earnest attitude is something Smith has conjured since his early days on the scene. After making his NYFW debut in 2010, Smith has attracted the biggest names in entertainment on the runway like Rihanna, Cassie, Serena Williams, Nicki Minaj and recently supermodel Winnie Harlow. With such dominating and powerful women in Smith’s orbit, it makes it easy to see just how spot-on his looks are.
But famous ladies aren’t Smith’s only muses. His show consisted of women of color—specifically Sudanese and Asian models, which made a big splash on social media. There was also a plus-size model who rocked the hell out of a little black dress.
“I’m inspired by a woman who appreciates getting dressed up in the day,” Smith added. “Not even having a reason to dress up, just ‘Yes!’ Just 2 o’clock in the afternoon. I’m really about somebody who just enjoys the thrill of dressing up.” But Smith’s goal at the end of the day is to bring back chic demeanor of yesterday, where fashionistas would dress to the nines on Casual Fridays.
“I want to revive those moments again where women would wear skirt suits during the day to go to work,” he said while pointing to his boiled wool jackets and matching pencil skirts. “They can transition from day to evening. I want to be able to bring back that level of glamour from an American perspective because I’m from New York City and this is the city that made me, this is the city that inspired me so for me to just be able to design and create off of all of my inspirations and my upbringing is a thrill.”
Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” closed the show but the celebratory vibes continued with guests like Tinashe, Delilah Hamlin, Amelia Hamlin, ASAP Ferg and Renell Medrano, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Young Paris, Patrick Starr, and Cyn Santana enjoying Moët & Chandon.
See more moments from the show below.
Tinashe
A$AP Ferg and Renell Medrano
Ryan Jamaal Swain
Jonathan Mannion
Patrick Starr