“This is a moment to celebrate what we’ve been through, that we are warriors, but at the same time, we’re allowed to celebrate and dance, disco and enjoy our victories even though we’re still fighting certain battles,” Sarah Staudinger said in a virtual morning preview ahead of her NYFW runway show. “If you’re going to dance in the spring, where do you want to go? For me, it was this Italian seaside disco moment.”
On Sunday night, the Staud designer (who also announced plans for the brand’s first retail store) converted the Spring Studios terrace into a sunny yellow disco dreamland, complete with lemon “disco ball,” picturesque city views, a finale firework show and fabulous, happy feminine fashions. Even Larry David was there, watching as Irina Shayk, Paloma Elsesser, Stella Maxwell, Precious Lee, Richie Shazam, Sasha Pivovarova and more megawatt models emerged on the lemon yellow carpeted runway to disco party tunes. The designer’s runway show was not one to be missed, nor were her clothes.
The look: Feminine disco party along the Italian riviera.
Quote of note: “I want to start with why I feel it’s important to show. A lot has happened over the past few years since we showed spring. For me, this is really about a celebration and a moment. I realized that I’m not a designer, and we’re not a brand that’s going to tell you exclusively low waists are in and high necks are out, etc. That’s not the trend I’m interested in discussing as much as the mood I think we should be in. For me, it was important to show — because I feel like so much has happened in the last two years and we’ve all fought battles, be it COVID-19, equality, correct pronouns….So many people have fought important battles over the last two years, and this is a moment to celebrate that. Throughout the collection, you’ll see a lot of citrus fruits — oranges, lemons — and that’s emblematic of the juice being worth the squeeze.”
Key pieces: Dresses were a big focus, ranging from short and sweet to long and fluid, as were matching sets. A standout, strictly showpiece, dress made up of leather and crocheted fruits (the same motif was prevalent on an easier, fluid gown); short and bright, knit party dresses with raffia and feathered hems. The Italian riviera feel came through lemon, orange and floral printed fashions for day to eve, knot details, easy poplin frocks, waved hems, printed scarf styles, crochet bikinis and little crop tops with low-slung, airy skirts, raffia footwear accents and kitschy little fruit-shaped bags, while stellar wrapped leather gladiator sandals alluded to warrior message.
The takeaway: Fresh, happy, modern, a little sexy and definitely playful. The collection upheld Staudinger’s continually strong brand DNA in fresh ways, offering a bit of something for everyone for the Italian Riviera and beyond.
