It’s been a sexy spring season, and Batsheva Hay is getting into the mix. The designer, who once began her shows with little calico prints and Laura Ashley-esque, covered-up styles, aimed to bring a little shock factor to spring, amping up her collection with more skin-baring silhouettes. Although the designer was tight-lipped about the collection, her clothes had much to say on the runway.
Actress Jemima Kirke opened the Midtown Ben’s Kosher Deli-staged show in a white PVC number that set the tone for the collection’s mix of signature era-spanning retro and prairie with an edged-up twist amplified through new fabrications. Case in point: a matching red polka-dotted button-down with a peplum pencil skirt, accessorized with red mesh gloves, mannish tie and glittered mary jane platforms; a strawberry-printed gunny-sack frock with fiery red gloves, or roomy white mesh skirts boasting black flocked velvet stars (with panties peeking through) – sweet, but sour (the good kind).
The look: Signature with a twist.
Quote of note: “The collection began with the idea of Gunne Sax [a brand from the ’70s] – I’ve done so much Laura Ashley and ’80s, but I’d never done a gunny-sack dress or anything ‘70s. I got into the idea of ‘70s and sexy – I knew it wanted to be sexy. I was trying to shock people with how much skin I was showing, I wanted it to ooze more than usual.”
Key pieces: A white two-piece crop top and full-skirted mesh set with black flocked velvet stars; a selection of debut short styles, like black-and-white bow bloomers with a corseted sailor blouse; roomy floral blazers atop little shiny bikini tops (cooly paired two ways — with a pink gingham gunny-sack skirt and silver mesh trousers); a pink taffeta dress with black polka dots and ruffled bust; plenty of signature, modest dresses and peplum-skirt with puff-sleeve set dressing, rendered in new floral prints, shiny iridescent hues and punky PVC.
The takeaway: Hay’s attitude-forward dressing provided a nice spin on her hallmarks – while offering just enough skin and covered-up, retro flair for Batsheva devotees.
