Victoria Hayes’ NYFW debut took place on the evening of September 4th at Spring Studios, with actresses Kimmy Shields and Caylee Cowan, Miss Jay Alexander, violinist Ezinma in attendance.
A highlight of the evening was the appearance of supermodel Coco Rocha, who closed the show in a black and white over-sized vinyl jacket, pin-striped shirt and pencil skirt, from which a latticework of Swarovski crystals swayed in time to the hard pounding beats of ‘The Prodigy’.
Since launching her label in 2016, Hayes has drawn numerous celebrity clients, including: Madonna, Lady Gaga, Andra Day, Cardi B, Alicia Keys and Ariana Grande. This is no surprise as Hayes’ most recent collection is a manifestation of the complex “dichotomy of present-day womanhood: Beautiful and aggressive, romantic yet protective, tough but precious.”
Inspired by the ‘90s movie 'SPACE JAM', Hayes Spring/Summer 2020 ready-to-wear, successfully transforms nylon windbreakers, athletic wear and the power suit into luxury items that reveal a more contoured and feminine silhouette.
Hayes’ use of layering and draping materials such as, hand-painted prints, colorful silks and reflective vinyl, along with the heavy embellishment of Swarovski crystals, highlight the collection’s desire for movement. This is also mirrored in the pairing of form-fitting, high-waisted tops with lose-flowing pants that reference the freedom of movement found in 90’s tracksuits.
Hayes traces her other source of inspiration back to her childhood, during an 8-year period when she was a self-described tomboy with a love for basketball. Maybe that is why Victoria Hayes’ S/S 2020 collection succeeds in creating an aura of confidence and inner strength, the kind that we, as women, strive for as contenders on our own court.
