LaQuan Smith FW24 Dresses Wall Street Power Brokers and The Box Clubgoers
“This collection is an ode to my office sirens,” said the designer.
For Fall/Winter 2024, LaQuan Smith stood on both business and play. “I took inspiration from the unapologetic strength and glamour of female power brokers,” the designer said in his show notes. “From executives of 1980’s Wall Street to the vixens of Studio 54.” Fittingly, his runway touched down in the heart of the Financial District at Cipriani 25, where cocktails and caviar greeted guests at the doors to the landmark venue that has long been associated with maritime trade. Under the gargantuan locale’s artistic ceilings, harsh alarm sounds abruptly interrupted conversations while guests found their seats. “This collection is an ode to my office sirens,” Smith said.
The fashioner’s glamour ruled the show. Pinstripe blazers were fitted with corsets to flatter the female form, while collared shirts were tucked into velvety bodysuits that were left uncovered. Sheer tops offered a view to models’ underlayers; satin gowns tied around the neck with asymmetrical finishes; reflective gowns were dramatically cut to reveal the body, and others were more conservative in form. The line was suited for both of its galvanizing locales: the office and the club.
“This season was an exploration into daywear done the LaQuan Smith way,” the designer said. “Provocative power suiting in rich hues like navy, which is a symbol of financial stability, cotton poplin bodysuits that transition seamlessly from day to night, and sharply tailored overcoats in sumptuous wools.”
While Smith’s inspirations may have been female-dominated, the runway did include a legion of menswear ensembles, building on the category that he only first introduced last season. This time around, the LaQuan Smith man was just as opulent as his female counterpart. He wore form-fitting tops and overcoats in brown tones, as well as striped button-up shirts and straight tailored trousers. His wardrobe also included dark fur coats, satin blazers, and full-blown tuxedo pieces. He was similarly ready for any type of upscale occasion.
Ahead of the final carousel, Babyface rose from his front-row seat and sat down at the piano located in the center of the runway, where his expert instrumentals soundtracked the full collection. Smith took his final bow, and guests imminently pulled out directions to The Box, for the brand’s after party.
See LaQuan Smith’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned to Hypebeast for more New York Fashion Week coverage.
