Proenza Schouler New York Fashion Week Women’s S/S 2019

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's homecoming show in New York

Models wear large trousers, denim shirts, black leather waistcoat and cream trench coat
Proenza Schouler S/S 2019.
(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Mood board: After multiple seasons of presenting its collections in Paris, Proenza Schouler chose to go back to the tenants of American culture for its first showing back on homegrown soil. Brimming over with tie-dye, acid wash denim and Western motifs such as pointed collars, studs and leather waistcoats, the label’s dynamic collection was cool, creative and deserving of the much-welcomed homecoming it received.

Scene setting: Staged on the second floor of an under-construction building on a Wall Street, Proenza Schouler crafted a snaking runway amidst crumbling plaster and exposed concrete walls. As guests entered, they were welcomed by a specially designed installation created by the artist Isa Genzken, who has used media, architecture, consumer goods, design and other everyday cultural material to create complex imagery and works. Genzken’s pieces for the label feature five mannequins decked out in Proenza Schouler pieces, masking tape, printed paper, plastic foil, spray cans and a ladder. The work, like Genzken’s others, are rife with political commentary and social ideologies.

Best in show: With its supreme sense for proportion, Proenza Schouler delivered a collection that was a feast for the eyes. From tiered and drop-waisted acid wash dresses, to architectural, wide-legged trousers and broad, tall leather boots, cinched together with thick cord at the ankles, the duo’s ability to transform comfortable wardrobe mainstays into smouldering statements was aided by the impeccable construction and tailoring behind each.

Models wear wide legged jeans, white waistcoat and metallic bag, white dress with cream boots and black dress with white trousers underneath

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Models wear tie dye shirts with blue and yellow denim skirts

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Models wear ruffled black and white dresses with white trouser and leather boots

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Models wear white ruffle dress with black leather boots and denim skirt with metallic short sleeve shirt and white leather boots

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.