With an infernal heat trapped inside the cavernous Corinthian-lined post office in Chelsea, Prabal Gurung is one of the hottest shows this season, literally
The sweltering scene
“No need for hot yoga tonight,” I overhear from the front row. With an infernal heat trapped inside the cavernous Corinthian-lined post office in Chelsea, Prabal Gurung is the hottest show of the afternoon – literally. Shrouded in darkness, feverish guests fan themselves with their cardstock invitations, while the only sign of what might come is a haunting violet glow from above.
Come away with me
The crowd of damp foreheads and sweat-soaked blouses is justified by the implied source of Gurung’s inspiration: an arduous trek through the mountains of his Nepalese youth. Like a quartz stone, filled with iridescent streaks, Gurung’s Himalayas shimmer with alternating layers of extreme darkness and light.
Wuthering heights
Streaks of serrated color are ruled by rich jewel tones – turquoise, amethyst, all set against flashes of icy, opalescent white. Yet innovation in fabric is the real power here. Unclassifiable materials rule a high standard of textural luxury, like a wool crepe that is at once sheer, metallic, and embroidered with iridescent mountain scenes.
Even utilitarian pieces oscillate with dimension. Light travels through a sheer back panel on an elastic-corded biker jacket, while the swirling patches on a knit sweater evoke geological layers: Gurung’s mountain climber reaches new heights of opulence.
