Malcolm Washington, the rising movie director with a eager sense of fashion, is making waves not solely in Hollywood but in addition on the planet of vogue. From Willy Chavarria on the pink carpet to an ever-growing assortment of basic sneakers for day, the younger director has grow to be fairly the one to look at—mixing the easy swagger of West Coast workwear with a deep reverence for cultural storytelling. For his directorial debut, The Piano Lesson, Washington reinterprets August Wilson’s iconic play, skillfully navigating themes of legacy, familial bonds, and the enduring energy of generational narratives. At its coronary heart, the movie is about heirlooms and lineage—and surprisingly sufficient, those self same themes are mirrored in how Washington approaches vogue.
Rising up in Hollywood because the baby of fashionable superstars Denzel (sure, that Denzel) and Pauletta Washington, he’s no stranger to daring type decisions. “I’ve all the time believed that vogue is extra than simply garments,” he tells Vogue, reflecting on his childhood influences. “It’s about legacy, tradition, and storytelling.” Whether or not it’s the outsized crew jackets his mom used to put on or the Dickies and Cortez sneakers that nod to his LA roots, Washington’s type is deeply private and politically charged. It’s a mixture of utilitarian ease and high-concept aptitude that mirrors his id as each a filmmaker and a person rooted in a wealthy cultural historical past. His type may very well be a tailor-made Louis Vuitton swimsuit at some point, and a easy blazer paired with denims, a basic white shirt, tie, and a baseball hat the following—very a lot within the vein of his father’s impeccably cool 90s aesthetic.
Washington stands in a protracted line of auteurs who’ve a holistic method to wardrobing in movie whereas additionally embodying stellar private type. (Assume: Jean-Luc Godard, Spike Lee, Baz Luhrmann, Sofia Coppola, Luca Guadagnino, and Greta Gerwig.) Similar to the visible parts in his movies, the garments are a medium for deeper that means, representing the characters’ lives, struggles, and legacies. And, like his characters, he’s not afraid to embrace contradictions—choosing gentle, fluid silhouettes that also pack a punch, with a laid-back vibe that’s undeniably sharp.
Karwai Tang
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For the extremely anticipated press tour of his first characteristic movie, Washington enlisted the assistance of stylist Matthew Henson, whom he sought out for his “low-key, tasteful” vibe. Collectively, the duo curated a masterclass in menswear, mixing sartorial magnificence, workwear, and conceptual vogue. “Malcolm is one among my favourite individuals to collaborate with as a result of he’s obtained unimaginable private type, so we simply draw from that,” Henson says. “He’s very discerning and is aware of precisely what he desires.” That included standout seems from Bottega Veneta, Prada, and Gucci, alongside rising manufacturers like Setchu and MAN-TLE.
Vogue caught up with the director to debate his vogue influences, his method to pink carpet seems, and the facility of visible storytelling via movie.
