Sade’s lyrics and look were a clear influence on Carly Cushnie this season, as she sent models down a grass-trimmed, foiled runway in the singer’s signature slicked-back braid, hoop earrings and red lips. It’s the designer’s first collection as a solo act, after an amicable split with co-founder and longtime design partner Michelle Ochs shortly after the 10th anniversary of their award-winning label Cushnie et Ochs in February.
No small amount of pressure, there—but the British-born Cushnie clearly took it in stride, sending a Caribbean-inspired collection down the catwalk that shows us exactly what we want our warm weather wardrobe to look like. Denim played beautifully off of silk, lace and crystal-encrusted mesh, as bare shoulders sparked instant longing for a quickly passing summer temps and heat waves yet to come. Along with summer whites and classic black, shades of citron, jade green, oceanic blue, fuchsia and poppy red all featured heavily in Cushnie’s vision for spring, as did a gorgeous bronze that looked like a shimmering second skin.
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Most refreshingly, Cushnie showed her collection on a diverse range of models, proving that the sleek silhouettes Cushnie et Ochs was lauded for are equally beautiful when sized for bigger bodies.
In attendance were some famous faces, including Whoopi Goldberg, activist and model Bethann Hardison, La La Anthony and model Lais Ribeiro, among others. Undoubtedly all agreed, as did Vogue, that Cushnie’s first appearance as a solo act was a hit.
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Can’t get enough of Cushnie? Either can we. As her muse Sade famously wrote, this is no ordinary love. Take a closer look at Spring-Summer 2019, Cushnie-style.
