NYFW: Women on a Mission at Hogan McLaughlin F/W19

I was totally crushing on Hogan McLaughlin while researching him and his work leading up to his F/W19 show last night. His face is smashably adorable, his demeanor endearing, and his Instagram account is like sweet, juicy pomegranate to my dark romantic Persephone. I had high hopes for this show, and this enchanting designer did not disappoint.

The show opened with one of my favorite songs - Björk’s Hunter. The song starts with a strong, quick beat and penetrating synth sounds. She sings, “If travel is searching/ And home has been found/ I'm not stopping/ I'm going hunting/ I'm the hunter/ I'll bring back the goods…” Then the strings pick up a persistent riff marching the mission forward with extreme focus and precision. This woman is strong. She is determined. She has unapologetically defined herself in the face of adversity and is toiling forward to find something true, grounding, nourishing. This is the woman McLaughlin dressed in his striking collection of muscular silhouettes; functional fits; and no-fuss earth tones that felt raw, sensual, and somehow both deeply demanding and completely wearable.

Green Means Go

Olive green reminds me of Italy, where my aunt laboriously collected olives from the ground as a child. This color is comforting; it conveys a connection to the earth, to a homeland. The fitted tailoring through the sleeves and bodice remind us to stay grounded; while the full, free-flowing flounce says stay nourished and keep moving forward.

This grounded olive green was a unifying theme throughout the collection.

Women Are Warriors

This piece stole the show. She is outfitted in armor in this sinewy silhouette, the black and white conveying the darkness and the light within every woman. She is powerful; she is equipped; she is ready.

We Are Steel

One of my favorite Tori Amos lyrics is, “Boy so hard...but I know a girl twice as hard.” This dress is for that girl. This dress is steel, from the iron shade to the hard, sharp cut and that bulletproof coverage.

Outfitting An Army

The show’s finale was set to Björk’s Army of Me. Chills. Because we women are soldiers every single day.

Behind the Scenes