The myth of crocodiles in the sewers of New York City dates back to as early as the 1920s, a time when unadulterated glitz, excess, and, evidently, a bit of conspiracy reigned supreme. A similar kind of fancy thinking captured the attention of Sander Lak, the creative director of Sies Marjan, who presented his Spring 2020 collection in the lobby at the Surrogate Courthouse, a venue that capsulizes a type of grandeur and sweeping romance that is, according to him, lacking nowadays. “This collection is a rejection of irony, bad taste, reality TV, and kitsch,” he said in the show notes. “It celebrates the beauty of having the time and freedom to create and consider your choices—the antithesis of rushing.”
Indeed, taking time to get primped before walking out the door surely doesn’t rank high anymore, with standards of professional dressing dwindling with every passing year. It is considered a luxury—if needless—to even attempt to look presentable, a characteristic that is now as far-fetched as crocodiles in the sewers. Not accepting this is Lak, who showcased 36 looks imbued with the high-octane glamour that characterized Gucci under the helm of Frida Giannini and Tom Ford. And to keep with this mystic reptilian analogy, croc leathers and prints were in abundance, configured into slick jacket-and-skirt combos, knee-high boots, and large crossbody bags. There were also slinky silk dresses and shimmering trench coats that are equal parts sultry and refined. All were cast in intense color palettes of saturated cerulean, sunshine yellow, fire engine red, eggplant, and emerald. This celebration of color was emphasized when glossy confetti burst from cannons, signaling the end of what was a focused, quintessentially classy show.
Check out the Sies Marjan Spring 2020 collection in the slideshow:
