Category: CATWALK REVIEW 24

Hilfiger’s collection echoes the maritime venue while showcasing matching color palettes and wardrobe classics.

By, Madeline Griffin

October 31, 2024

On Sunday, September 8th, 2024, Tommy Hilfiger unveils his collection, “Nautical with a Twist”, Spring 2025 collection on the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry at New York Fashion Week. The collection’s recognizable styles evoke a sense of nostalgia with a new edge, and the seamless bond between the show theme and venue perfectly embodies the essence of the Tommy Hilfiger brand. This show immerses guests in a unique maritime experience, demonstrating how classic influences can be reimagined for today’s fashion scene. 

To further explain the inspiration for this show, Hilfiger stated, “We’re revisiting the nautical and maritime inspirations that have defined our signature look since 1985, today, it’s updated and remixed for 2025: the look has the ease of effortless summer style, but with a confidence that feels ready to step off the ferry and back into the city.” The foundational base of the company seeks to update and introduce new levels of sophistication but revisit its core strengths. 

This season, the catwalk came alive with stylish and functional wear, highlighting Hilfiger’s bold experimentation with structured silhouettes and vibrant primary colors. Royal blue and red emerged as the most prominent hues, setting the tone for the collection. An elevated Ivy League aesthetic was evident throughout, featuring club blazers made from soft wool blends, classic two-tone varsity jackets, double-pleated yacht shorts, and water-resistant nylon Regatta Jackets. Each menswear look maintained a polished vibe while incorporating playful elements, such as embroidered fisherman knit sweaters and longline striped button-ups with mismatched prints and triangular collars. Neck-tie bandanas were thoughtfully scattered throughout, adding a sailor’s touch, while the signature “TH” monogram was imprinted on everyday baseball caps, completing the look. The combination of colors, shapes, and patterns created a cohesive and dynamic collection. 

Setting the show on the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry added an unforgettable element, immersing guests in the world of Hilfiger’s “Nautical with a Twist” collection. Branding details like posters and life preservers created a personal touch, reinforcing the brand’s signature aesthetic. Then, Staten Island’s own Wu-Tang Clan took the stage, the energy surged, blending fashion with nostalgia to close the night on an upbeat note. This mix of setting and style balanced newness with familiarity, showing Hilfiger’s unique ability to make his environments as iconic as his designs.

Offering an effortless style that can transition seamlessly, from casual outings to more polished events, this collection is likely to fit many people’s needs. Tommy Hilfiger’s designs are in shipshape to become essential staples for Spring 2025.

Emma Laimo | October 31st, 2024

Andersson Bell brings the style of the American art school kid to Shanghai.

On October 13th, 2024, Andersson Bell makes their runway debut at Shanghai fashion week showing off their western Americana style for the Spring/Summer 2025 Collection titled “Art School Kid.” This show took 7 months of preparation and was curated for the purpose of global brand expansion and as Andersson Bell states on their Instagram page “a tribute to creative freedom and individuality.”

This collection celebrates the Americana style of the “Art school kid” you always saw in class with that cool grunge and distressed style. The collection features denim jackets with fringing details, cowboy prints, and western-inspired embellishments while incorporating their modern and creative twist on it with the slimmer silhouettes and straight leg trousers. The show also references icons like Kurt Cobain who is remembered through his grunge style of music and clothing for incorporating patchwork, denim, knits, and flannel. As Andersson Bell states on their Instagram, this collection “is inspired by the rebellious spirit of the art school scene.” This grungy runway includes motifs from the 90s and early 2000s while still revealing itself to be sleek and casual for creative yet trendy fashion wearers.

The brand decided to debut this collection in Shanghai for more exposure as they are only available in stock at top Chinese Multi-brand stores. Andersson Bell is hoping to expand to E-Commerce and eventually into their own store as they are growing in popularity across China. The Creative Director, Dohun Kim states that they chose Shanghai for this show because “We wanted to connect to buyers, press, and fans here. It’s a large market for us, and sales have been strong.” So gear up with your creative side and embrace Western Americana style because Andersson Bell is making a breakthrough with this collection by not only connecting to their Chinese market but also referencing all the people who were or knew the “Art School Kid.”

This runway is beautifully rebellious as it embraces the creativity and grunge style of the 90s while incorporating modern silhouettes and classic western style motifs like cowboy hats and buckled shoes. The collections use of blending and styling different textures together with different knits, denims, and polyester is useful for the trendy fashion buyer as they can use this collection and pull a lot of different styles from one look.