Cowboy core? Been there, done that. Giving their Spring 2024 Knwls collection a Western twist, design duo Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault transitioned to tough '80s chic for fall, and their models hit the concrete floors of the Old Truman Brewery with her pointed, shiny stilettos.
Behind the scenes, they expressed a desire to make the brand more accessible and broaden its appeal beyond younger generations. Hence the pencil skirts, broad-shouldered jackets with belts at the hips, and some polished-looking leather coats.
Designers have a knack for giving their garments an almost vintage look with the unique patinas they give to leather, their muddy prints and unconventional colors, which this season included sickly greens and yellows as well as more conservative hues like camel.
They didn't completely exorcise their inner club kids and continued to experiment with corset tops and lace-ups, the latter applied to tight jean jackets, clamshells, and evening dresses. The knit skirts and sleeveless bodycon dresses seemed to have one foot in a creative workplace and the other on the dance floor, so one strap was removed from the shoulder.
Press releases touted the collection’s “severe elegance,” “distant elegance,” and “punk style.”
While they want to elevate their brand, Knowles and Arsenault said they are also fighting to keep prices in check and have moved some production from Italy to Portugal so as not to alienate their current devotees and the broader, younger-at-heart audience they want. seduce.
