LaQuan Smith has proven in previous seasons that she knows how to create sexy looks fit for a night out. For fall 2024, Smith continued this spirit by bringing it to daywear for a line that showcased a more mature and refined woman, but one who still likes a good party.
“With any design process and creativity, there is always an evolution in the body of work,” Smith said during a preview of the collection, designed by Carine Roitfeld. “I definitely feel like I'm growing as a designer. I'm growing as a human being, and so I think even the way my customers are growing, where I sell – the wholesale business is growing and everything is expanding and reaching different walks of life and different demographics. “That allowed me to spread my wings to access different people.”
Smith was inspired by 1980s Wall Street executives and Studio 54 for a collection that put a sexy spin on corporate wear. Suits were a major component of the collection, with standout styles like a navy striped dress with a plunging neckline or a blazer and mini skirt set paired with an unbuttoned dress shirt. The pieces evoked Smith's quintessential sexy vibe, while also showing how the aesthetic can evolve for a more mature customer.
“I'm designing for a very particular woman who wants to be the center of attention, who is in charge, who is the boss of her own life and who has a kind of aura of female empowerment around her,” Smith said. “It's all still pretty sexy, it's just that she's leveled up.”
Smith's use of fabrics fostered this “higher level” feeling. The models walked the runway in a series of liquid outfits that were as eye-catching as they were effortless, giving the models undeniable confidence. The looks included buttery leather bodysuits, a burgundy and black color-blocking ensemble, and a fitted black dress with an open back that was both sexy and sophisticated.
“I wanted it to be a situation where there was a fantasy world, like she was working on Wall Street and at the end, she went to this really fancy speakeasy drinking her Louis XIII cognac,” he said of his emphasis on day clothes
Smith's fall 2024 collection offered a refreshing and refined take on the designer's signature sensual woman, and showcased the designer's artistry in translating and evolving aesthetics for a more mature and sophisticated client.
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