In a pre-release world, Maisie Wilen would be celebrating her fourth collection with a New York Fashion Week show, but in 2021 meaningful experiences are the norm. So Wilen decided to pay homage to the runway in a special video created to showcase her drop line. In the clip, models make their way down a fluid “catwalk” as a soundtrack of murmurs plays in the background mimicking the opinions of IRL audiences and the general aspects of fashion month. The images that the team sees walking on water in several prints feel dreamy, but the designer’s starting point was rooted in the conventional setting. “I was focused on comfort and change,” Wilen said. “I was both responding and opposing the terrible call for comfort clothing in the industry. I’m famous for going out of sight, and I was thinking ‘What would be so special about a party scene? as long as I still fit in with where my customer is today – clothing that can switch between quarantine and life after quarantine. ”
Playing with these ideas meant adding both formal and casual elements. Neon clothing from retro windbreakers has been replaced with blazer and skirt sets that were perfect for the office or Zoom meetings. Motocross-inspired reflective pieces shook 80s-style sportswear, while skintight catsuits and leggings kept body awareness above the mind. Each piece was covered in the punchy prints that became Wilen’s signature. The result of hours of throwing details in Photoshop and Illustrator, they usually go from geometric to psychedelic. In this approach, Wilens took a different approach, knitting together several fabrics to make embroidery patterns. In a category called “non-fiction,” collection details were written over T-shirts and tops alongside QR codes. “It’s about the contrast of natural and technical images,” Wilen explained. “Scan the code on the clothing, and it will take you to the product page on our website. They should be attractive and sculpt the consumer at the same time. ”
At brighter times, Wilen’s vision for fall would be perfect for hopping from one club to the next, but in 2021 the outfit offers some escapism. It’s easy to imagine dancing the night away in one of her cropped velvet tops or trippy lava print trousers. While pieces like the jacquard coats and sporty suit seem to go on a Bella Hadid paparazzi walk or related outdoor activity, most could be enjoyed at home . Tangerine tie-dyed sweatpants and zigzag-covered leggings would undoubtedly break the monotony of the wardrobe from home.
As a late millennium member or first wave of Generation-Z, according to your card, Wilen is specifically prioritized to address the desires of young consumers. Those who grew up with Delia catalogs feel a little nostalgic looking at her keyhole tops and the pastel meets a neon color combination that makes up the palette of the season. Even if you didn’t, the designs are definitely thriving online, where Instagram and TikTok updates are now the main reasons for decorating. With the advancement of Wilen fashions, she wants to make sure her customers feel special no matter what the future holds. “[Our] customers thank us for their special moments, ”she says. “They seem to be drawn to our dresses for their important moments, so I want to maintain that specialty, even if they just want to take a nice picture at home. ”