No comic book anti-heroine has the same cultural cache as Catwoman. Selena Kyle, Batman’s on-again, off-again antagonist, has been a prominent figure in superhero media since being introduced in 1940. Nine actresses have inhabited the role onscreen, but whether it’s Eartha Kitt or Zoë Kravitz, the character’s slinky wardrobe is a constant. Kyle’s glossy black catsuit served as a starting point for Greta Constantine designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong. They found themselves captivated by femme fatales as they began work on their latest collection. The Greta girl is up to no good this season, but she’s having a helluva time.
In high shine PVC, a black turtleneck top and skintight pants served as the building block for multiple looks. The styling choice added a layer of sexiness to the brand’s frothy ruffles but will allow the wearer to choose whether or not they wanted to tap into their inner-Catwoman. Pieces like a mint-green blouse detailed with sculptural frills along its sleeves or a mermaid-tail ball gown tipped with hot pink could be worn conservatively. The real fun though came when audaciousness was the only option. Interestingly, this was most evident in the duo’s outerwear, which played with proportion via puffer silhouettes in metallic fabrications blinding enough to be seen from space. “We wanted to do something new with volume and proportion, which have always been important to us,” shared Pickersgill. “Using the puffers felt unexpected, a break from the typical. Plus, I love the way they look layered over a dress.”
Most PVC dresses require tenacity. As attention-grabbing as they are, getting into and out of the form-fitting, rigid material takes time, effort, and a team of helpers, as Kim Kardashian has regularly demonstrated on Instagram. Thankfully, Pickersgill and Wong have no patience for fussy fashion. Each of the polished pieces within the collection comes complete with a failsafe touch. The back of that bright red PVC cocktail look with the candy wrapper bow is made from a different and considerably more malleable material. “No one has time to be uncomfortable,” says Pickersgill. “You have to be able to move and enjoy yourself, even when you’re wearing a dress that’s skintight.”
Prioritizing comfort has been a key part of what’s made Greta Constantine’s eveningwear successful with multiple demographics, particularly amongst celebrities. During awards season, the brand’s cross-generational reach was especially evident. After dressing 31-year-old West Side Story star Ariana DeBose, they outfitted 90-year-old acting legend Rita Moreno for the Producers Guild of America Awards. During her big night out, Moreno skipped the PVC, but her confident stride into the event captured the collection’s spirit.
