WILLY CHAVARRIA

FALL 2018

Menswear designer Willy Chavarria is making bold statements with his dark and masculine collections. Unfortunately, we missed last season’s show at the infamous New York City leather bar, The Eagle – a very strong showing that had people talking. This season’s show dubbed “Believers” was no less powerful. Chavarria is a Chicano from the West Coast, and his Fall 2018 collection is a reflection of a tough, working class world. His choice of dark-skinned models (some with face & neck tattoos) lent street cred to this high fashion label. Favorite pieces included the eighties inspired black leather looks in bomber jackets, trenches and a suit. His take on nineties inspired oversized workwear and graphics were all his own. Accessories like crucifixes and black leather gloves added a strong finishing touch, as well as fake tears on models’ cheeks. This all commanded attention. And there’s nothing really pretty here in this dark world. But in second thought, perhaps it’s actually quite beautiful, as indicated at the closing of his show with a father walking the runway holding his baby girl and giving us much needed hope. Photography Alexander Thompson. http://www.willychavarria.com/