AFP/ AP – Looking down on the crowd, model Frida Aasen dramatically flung her LaQuan Smith shearling coat from the balcony of the ritzy Rockefeller Center Rainbow Room and emerged down the cascading staircase following the infamous words of Dynasty actress Joan Collins, “I now own this house.”
While the display was intended to evoke the ’80s Hollywood glamour inspiration behind Smith’s night show, it was also a subtle reminder to his attendees that this was a house that LaQuan Smith has built from the ground up into a global luxury brand launching with Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.
One by one, models descended the staircase in his beautifully impressive designs – from the black sheer dress with a plunging neckline and black satin bottom that rose at the hips and dipped below the belly button to the dazzling dress draped with black fringe.
In a refreshing take on menswear, Smith’s latest pieces included a double-breasted men’s suit jacket that was cropped at the hips while another look featured a sheer black button down with a neck tie under a black suit jacket.
“This collection is really rich in texture, and it screams luxury quality,” Smith said.
