Getting Dirty
Review of Elena Velez Spring 2024 Fashion Show
By Mario Abad
THE COLLECTION
THE VIBE
THE THEME
Elena Velez staged her show in a Bushwick, Brooklyn warehouse in a rectangular mud pit — there were no seats, everyone was standing — where street-cast models walked (more like struggled) along the wet dirt either barefoot, in cowboy boots, or in heels. The clothes were signature Velez: corseted dresses, humble denim, lingerie layers, all of which got dirty as the models rolled around and wrestled in the mud for the finale.
THE BUZZWORDS
Performance. Moody. Sinister.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Look #27
The furry bodice, white face paint, and gathered dress was one of the more impactful looks made more memorable by the model’s broody stance and careful walk. It’s one of the few instances where we see Velez show off her intricate dressmaking skills.
THE DIRECTION
THE QUOTE
We have lost touch with our gift and responsibility to paint a truthful and beautiful picture of our times. It feels to me like the sanitization and unilateralization of womanhood in popular culture today leaves no room for the nuance and multiplicity we deserve as architects of labyrinthine interior lives.
THE WRAP UP
Velez is someone who has been very vocal about the struggles of an emerging, independent designer making it in the industry. Watching this show unfold, you could tell she has a lot to say about womanhood and society despite her limited resources and funding. With all the brouhaha about her leading up to the show — her decision to not pay models caused a mild stir online — and the appearance of important critics and editors who made the schlep all the way to Bushwick, it’s clear the designer has an undeniable talent and the ability to get eyes on her. One hopes she gets her commercial side in order so she can carry on as one of New York’s most intriguing rising stars.
