Christopher John Rogers is inspired by the unconventional. Baton Rouge-born and Brooklyn-based, the designer embraced seemingly contradictory elements in his Fall/Winter 2020 collection. “Chaotic glamour” is paired with the pragmatic aim to create a modern interpretation of elegance, tapping into the juxtaposition of imagination and remembrance with a full spectrum of jewel-tones, intricate ruching, and shimmering Swarovski crystals. Informed by Madame Grès, volume, texture, and elaborate silhouettes merge in Rogers’ extravagant designs. Cascading layers on puff sleeves are meticulously tailored on a metallic strapless jumpsuit, and broad shoulders evoke a sense of power on both an iridescent purple and hunter green suit set.

In the same way Rogers reinterprets and reinvents the modern essence of garment design, the environment of this show was significant in challenging conventional practices within fashion. The atmosphere intentionally embodied and examined the idea of elegance, merging theatricality with a carefully crafted architectural experience. With the help of Barcelona-based lighting brand Santa & Cole, design studio duo Sauras + Garriga worked with Rogers to create a space complete with the classic signifiers of luxury: chandeliers and heavy, billowing curtains. Attention to visual and emotional detail was a key element in transforming ideas from concept to creation. Precise garment construction, cohesive styling, and the designed atmosphere of Christopher John Rogers Fall/Winter 2020 evoked a sense of classic craftsmanship through a fresh lens.