Mix It Up

A couple of changes have taken place since Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs’ Spring 2016 runway show in September. In November, it was announced that the ladies sold a minority stake in their label to secure an investor and brought on Cynthia Rowley alumni Peter Arnold as their new CEO. Surely this will aid Cushnie et Ochs expansion and, with this being the first runway show since the label has secured more money and a new chief executive officer all eyes were looking for how these recent changes impacted the brand.

Roaring Twenties

Louise Brooks, the famous 1920s Kansas-born actress famous for her roles in Europe’s Pandora’s Box and A Girl in Every Port —as well as her iconic bobbed hair cut— was the muse that inspired the sexy looks that opened the Fall 2016 collection. Beaded fringe, thigh high slits and long sleeves hit the runway first. Flapper overcoats were layered over dresses, elbow length gloves were the accessory of choice for a striped jumpsuit and signature cutouts kept these 1920s inspired looks modern.

Ruby Winner

Like most designers showing this week the brand made a few missteps. The entire Aubergine section was pretty but failed to impress as well as the black and gunmetal looks that came before them and pants with splits —seen in both black and towards the end of the show in ruby— were a bit awkward. But, as a whole, there was still a lot to applaud, particularly the Ruby finale dress that barely covered the breast that continues to make Cushnie et Ochs one of the better brands that attract an influential group of industry insiders and well dressed women to the third floor of Bergdorf Goodman.

Words: Nigel Isaiah