For years now, designer Naeem Khan has been working his atelier out of New York’s Garment District—a historic neighborhood that’s slowly shrinking yr by yr. For his new spring lookbook, Khan wished to pay homage to the spirit of the world, so he photographed his new assortment of formal night apparel in his personal studio, among the many mannequins and rolls of cloth. “The realm is turning into extra residential, and the entire attraction of the garment trade is being taken away,” mentioned Khan. “I wished to have fun it.”
Whereas the season served as a tribute to his personal Manhattan headquarters, the colours and finishes of his glamorous robes have been far more European-minded. Khan drew inspiration from the colourful hues that he discovered throughout journeys to Tuscany and Sicily this yr. “The church buildings in Italy have all these lovely colours,” he mentioned. “I wished it to be upbeat—with tons of colours and flowers.” The fusion of sugary pastels was, naturally, excellent for spring.
It’s no shock that Khan centered on night robes, on condition that’s what his clients continuously ask for (and purchase). There have been frocks like a yellow strapless robe with a full skirt, embroidered with florals and three-dimensional petals. “They have been all hand-stitched, one petal at a time,” mentioned Khan. Lengthy-sleeved column robes, striped with rows of multicolor beads (very Studio 54), accentuated the shape in flattering methods. “I drew all of them on the physique, after which accentuated the angles to offer it extra of an hourglass form,” mentioned the designer. One other beaded sleeveless gown featured a skirt that referenced the form of Roman arches, one other Italian contact.
Since Khan’s beautiful embroideries and elaborations typically draw the main focus, the designer made makes an attempt to strip issues again and supply one thing totally different, too. His breezy caftans, for one, provided a way of simplicity—although he couldn’t resist trimming the neckline and sleeves with crystals. “I wished a La Dolce Vita second,” he mentioned. For these in search of discrete, stealth-wealth staples, look elsewhere.
