September 12, 2019 |
Kieran Culkin in New York Law School wearing a shiny silver top and dappled gold cropped trousers. Believe it or not, this isn’t a strange version of Cluedo, but a scene from the Batsheva show. Culkin was sporting the first outing of Batsheva Hay’s menswear but one of a fair few familiar faces making their way down the catwalk in her SS20 creations. Kaitlyn Dever, Dianna Agron, Melissa Gilbert and Veronica Webb, somewhat unrecognisable sporting outdated, granny-permed wigs as they made their way through the lecture theatre in bold Batsheva looks.
Batsheva is a bit of a fashion phenomenon. A brand with an interesting and unorthodox story, making clothes which, until fairly recently, might have been considered highly unfashionable or outdated, but are becoming increasingly alluring with the ideas of contemporary femininity constantly shifting. To give herself a break from attempting to explain the sensation, in lieu of a soundtrack, Hay enlisted the help of three academics who presented their theses to the audience (with the help of a Powerpoint presentation) whilst the models walked down. An art historian, a psychoanalyst and a philosopher all gave their intellectual two cents on the brand, leaving the audience with perhaps more questions than they started with. This season, Hay introduced more layering pieces and new fabrics to her output, keeping modest dressing at the heart with a helpline rarely skimming above the knee and necklines kept high, with no cleavage in sight. Batsheva’s clothes make you stop, stare and start conversations as all great fashion should.
Photographs by Jason Lloyd-Evans.
