Sparkle Like a Rockstar, Speak Like a Poet: Libertine at NYFW

What’s the most over the top thing you can think of?
Libertine‘s show at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is exactly a notch above that.

Johnson Hartig presented a wild, imaginative and multi-sensory runway show featuring menswear and womenswear in bright and theatrical quantities. Party gypsy, part Gods, part history and part party funk, the designer showcased his inspirations as Robert Burns‘ poetry and George Frideric Handel‘s opera. Combining the shiny fabrics and details with writings on the wall, literally, it was like a union of a rockstar with a poet.

libertine Johnson Hartig fw17 nyfw new york fashion week runway womenswear menswear @sssourabh

There were numerous prints – of puppies in red hues, to florals of many shapes and sizes. Topped on suits in what would be otherwise kitsch, but gave the colorful papparazzi red carpets a run for their money, as well as pink and red motifs on bright blue and even shimmering fabrics. Speaking of glimmer, many designers embraced gold, my favorite hue, and Libertine’s styles were nothing short of sunny, sparkly and shiny. Almost like waltzing into Baz Luhrmann‘s cinemascopes, there were sequined joggers and chain swaying tassels on jackets, metallic shorts with oversized sweaters, and impeccably detailed cowboy boots with oversized fur jackets, and so much more that begged time to stop to observe every ounce of craftsmanship and detail.

With a penchant for quirky writings and literary quotes on clothing, the metaphor of writings on the wall was brought to life with the choice of apt colors, fonts and words. “Neat”, “Party”, “Don’t Bug Me”, “Mon Dieu”, “HOly F-K” and other phrases were embelished, embroidered and bejeweled on both sportswear and formal wear.

One of my favorites was the Hindu Goddess Kali of strength on an oversized shirt for guys, backed with “Goin’ Back to Kali” as a tongue-in-cheek ode to my favorite Los Angeles and The Notorious B.I.G. song. There were other long flowing, oversized pieces, very gypsy like in their nature, and on point with the not-fitted trend. The prints and embelishments on them were suited for a larger canvas, like a print with Santa Claus smoking, or with the red dog asking “Sup?”, paired with distressed shorts.

As a lover of all things leopard print, possibly even a stronger contender for my heart and peace than gold, I was thrilled to see all round leopard print sweatpants and shirts, hoodies with pants and leggings underneath many looks, foretelling that my favorite print was a mainstay for at least for a few more years. And I was sporting it too!