There’s something #NYFW has over any of the other big fashion weeks in the world; diverse casting. This was especially visible at Sies Marjan, where stars like Kaia Gerber, Anna Ewers and Debra Shaw shared the runway with friends and family of designer Sander Lak - one of which was Lak’s mother Marjan. The diversity was beautiful. Another great production detail was the elimination of the hierarchy that comes with a seating plan; everyone was standing. Not only did it elevate the sense of inclusion, it also allowed the guest to 'work the room' as if it was a cocktail party at a friend’s house. However, designers should always be mindful of its guests during fashion week; everyone is running (literally) from show to show, so when a venue doesn’t allow for a quick exit, it’s a real annoyance. Do not, I repeat, do not choose a venue where the only exit for you and over two-hundred guests consists of two tiny elevators.
The collection was a bit schizophrenic. It went from adorably striped sailor knits to full-on Blade Runner hooker within seconds. There was a blue top, skirt combo layered with a sheet of transparent crocodile pattern embossed latex followed by an orange belt dress under a bright yellow transparent raincoat. As confusing as it was, the looks actually looked really good. You can tell that Lak is great at picking materials and combining them, but not all ideas should be in one collection. The tailoring was strong; all the suits made the models look ready for a day on a boat ride from the future.
Another aspect that was obvious from the materials: money! It’s not hard to tell that with only six collections behind him, top models walking the show, and a Bruce Weber lensed campaign, there’s major money behind Sies Marjan. The brand exudes wealth and the freedom to do whatever the Fuck you want to do.
