Stella Jean Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear

taretmakeup Haziran 04, 2021

Milan Fashion Week kicked off this week and I am super excited to review an emerging brand I’ve been following for the past few years: Stella Jean. Helmed by Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, the brand’s eclectic pieces claim Beyoncé and Rihanna as fans and have an undeniable brand identity — bold matching (or mis-matching) of multi-layer prints that embody both her métissage and Creole heritage. This Spring 2016 RTW Collection was pleasantly no difference.

The theme of this collection was overwhelming inspired by a multitude of things; by the looks of the color palette and visual motifs emblazoned on jackets, one could argue her inspiration was Latin America, Haiti, parts of Africa, and/or Italy. Graphic tees that looked almost vintage boasted “C’era una volta America,” which translates to ‘Once Upon A Time in America’ in Italian. She worked in a futuristic vibe with the hair styling (very high tousled buns), the eyewear (scientist-style laboratory glasses), and wide-brimmed visors (in watermelon print, mind you!).

The accessories alone could have been their own post — she incorporated metal fish and paper-doll necklaces and sculptural clutches in pink, blue, and tan gingham for the models to carry. Even the footwear (which on occasion can be an afterthought in a collection) was incredibly festive and for the most part, could transition well into everyday women wearing her pieces. Some of my favorite ensembles included a batik-inspired tight pencil skirt in navy blue, another handkerchief embellished light blue skirt, and a green canvas short jacket with intricate beading on the sleeve. You are guaranteed to stand out when you rock one of her pieces and that is one of the attributes I admire about the brand.

Her whole ethos is certainly about the cross-pollination that occurs between cultures; she being of two cultures herself, she is often trying to create harmony, conjuring up narratives of unity between two things that appear at first glance to be entirely opposed. A truly creative collection!