Designer LaQuan Smith hosts first fashion show atop Empire State Building

Record ID: 1636109

  • Title: Designer LaQuan Smith hosts first fashion show atop Empire State Building
  • Date: 10th September 2021
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 9, 2021) (REUTERS) MODELS IN HAIR AND MAKEUP MODEL WINNIE HARLOW HAVING MAKEUP APPLIED MODEL HAVING HAIR STYLED DESIGNER LAQUAN SMITH SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DESIGNER, LAQUAN SMITH, SAYING: "I'm all about, you know, the traditional live splashy runway shows that I grew up, you know, with in New York. And, you know, thinking of all these iconic New York moments. And I was singing all these New York anthem songs and I'm like, duh, Empire State Building. And so, you know, I'm just so honored to be partnered with them and working with them. And, you know, it is a form of celebration on all accounts." MORE OF SMITH SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DESIGNER, LAQUAN SMITH, SAYING: "What you'll see tonight is just really a preview of sort of the transition from, you know, comfort zone to glam zone. You know, I've taken into the consideration that, you know, we are getting back out there again. And so there's sort of a spectrum. You know, there's, there's a few people that, you know, we're enjoying staying home or enjoying being our little bathrobes and our silk pajamas. But then you've got girls that are like, I want to shop. I want to go out, I want to show my back. I want to show my décolletage. And so, sort of bridging that gap." MORE OF SMITH SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DESIGNER, LAQUAN SMITH, SAYING: "I really wanted to stick with textures this season. I worked with a lot of, you know, beautiful suede for spring, you know. Suede and printed leathers and terry cloth and, you know, Chantilly laces and leather and, yeah. I mean, even, you know, t-shirts, 100 percent cotton t-shirts, you know, t-shirt fabrics. I was really loving the manipulation of, if she's going to wear a t-shirt, what does that look like for LaQuan Smith."
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2021 05:03
  • Keywords: clothes designer empire state building laquan smith models new york fashion week nyfw runway
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Fashion,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EU4ZDQX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Fashion floated high above New York City as designer LaQuan Smith debuted his latest collection on the observation deck of the Empire State Building Thursday (September 9) night.
    Smith said he was honored to be partnering with the landmark for his return post-quarantine.
    "I was singing all these New York anthem songs and I'm like, duh, Empire State Building," said Smith.
    "It is a form of celebration on all accounts."
    Models circled the building to a soundtrack of bass filled house and hip-hop music wearing a collection Smith called a juxtaposition of comfortability and sensuality.
    "What you'll see tonight is just really a preview of sort of the transition from, you know, comfort zone to glam zone. I've taken into the consideration that, you know, we are getting back out there again. And so, there's sort of a spectrum."
    The collection featured an array of sparkly bodysuits, mini dresses and cutout details on dresses and pants. The New York based designer said that texture was more important than the color palette this season.
    "Suede and printed leathers and terry cloth and, you know, Chantilly laces and leather and, yeah. I mean, even, you know, t-shirts, 100 percent cotton t-shirts, you know, t-shirt fabrics. I was really loving the manipulation of, if she's going to wear a t-shirt, what does that look like for Laquan Smith."
    Items from the collection are available for purchase now via Afterpay, a buy now, pay later shopping platform.
    This was the first ever show held inside the iconic building which is celebrating its 90ths anniversary this year.
    New York fashion week will end on September 12.
    (Production: Alicia Powell, Hussein Al Waalie)
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