Please register to access this content.
To continue viewing the content you love, please sign in or create a new account
Dismiss
This content is for our paying subscribers only

Lifestyle Fashion

NYFW: Naeem Khan pays homage to America with star-spangled collection

Models wore elaborate gold and silver headpieces, evocative of the Statue of Liberty



The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

Designer Naeem Khan sent models down the runway on Tuesday in a shimmering, star-spangled collection the immigrant called his love letter to America, recalling how he started his brand with only $500 (Dh1,836.3) and plenty of determination.

New York: A model displays fashion from Naeem Khan during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

“I am where I am today out of sheer time and hard work and it’s because of this country,” he said during an emotional interview backstage. “This is my homage to thanking America.”

The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

The opening look was an almost couture take on Uncle Sam with white satin pants, a bold red belt and navy blouse covered with white stars. Next up were shimmering blue sequinned prints with white stars — one an elegant long-sleeved jumpsuit, the other a glamorous hooded caftan. Several of his signature caftans were also done in American reds and blues.

Advertisement

Models wore elaborate gold and silver headpieces, evocative of the Statue of Liberty. Others had gold and silver sprigs shooting out of sleek buns, giving off the feel of fireworks.

“It’s an election year and I wanted something to make a statement that says America,” said Khan.

The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

His love affair with animal prints continued in this collection with leopard print blouses and dresses, both short and long. A short, pink, sequin fringe dress was paired with thigh high leopard print boots. A show-stopping, full skirted dress in head-to-toe leopard had a dramatic neckline that plunged to the navel.

But the stars and stripes fuss waned toward the end of the collection when Khan sent models out in a rainbow palette of elegant, A-line gowns. Some had elaborate hand-beading in a floral motif.

Advertisement

Head-to-toe sequin looks were also woven throughout the collection, in body skimming numbers reminiscent of his Halston days, in modern jumpsuits and in a pantsuit with a matching sequinned bandeau.

The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

Khan dressed ‘The Irishman’ actress Stephanie Kurtzuba for the Oscars over the weekend, but confessed he was too busy with the collection to pay attention to the red carpet fashion.

But pal Ryan Seacrest, who attended Tuesday’s show as part of New York Fashion week, listed Renee Zellweger, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz and Beanie Feldstein as his best dressed.

The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP
Advertisement

Seacrest said he’s amazed to watch Khan’s creative process.

“Naeem and I will have dinner and he’ll come up with an idea and literally walk away from the table and sketch it out. And then I see it come to life today,” Seacrest said, confirming that at least one of the dinner table drawings actually made it down the runway Tuesday. “I was blown away and impressed once again.”

Actor Ewan McGregor watched the show from backstage with the designer.

The latest fashion creation from Naeem Khan is modeled during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.
Image Credit: AP

In addition to the collection, Khan said he had been working on sustainable fashion in what he called “farm to your body” clothing and is considering growing his own hemp for material as a way to reinvigorate fabric production in the United States.

Advertisement

“Sustainability has to be that you actually make an impact on the footprint,” he said. “It’s an ambitious project. It has to make economic sense. We’ll see.”

Fashion designer Naeem Khan appear on runway with models after unveiling is latest creations during New York's Fashion Week, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2020.

1 of 1

Advertisement