Willy Chavarria isn’t living in the future—he’s got both feet in the here and now. It’s a sensibility that translated to the design of his Fall 2023 collection, which privileged the label’s proven elegance over gimmicks or shock-factor novelty. “I think we just have to be serene in the moment that we’re in, and appreciate the beauty of it,” he told Document, noting the importance of immediacy in approaching an uncertain world.

The presentation, staged at the Cooper Hewitt, did mark one significant departure from Chavarria’s existing practice: It distinctly occupied the realm of eveningwear, featuring flowing silk blouses and trousers, sculptural high-collared coats, leather gloves, puffed sleeves, satin bows, and floral pins. The color scheme was strictly black-and-white, the music classical—combined with the museum’s Georgian architecture, the affair was indulgent, and absolutely dedicated to grandeur.

Here, Document catches Chavarria post-show, reflecting on community, composure, and the optimism held in living for today.