Prabal Gurung’s tale of two places for AW22.
Prabal Gurung described his show as “A tale of two places: where I am and where I’m from, where I live and where I long for” – New York and Nepal.
The COVID pandemic has kept Gurung away from his homeland for “a few years,” and he misses it terribly. Yet while he has often celebrated the country on his runway, this time out he did so with difference, in a reverie in which he reenvisioned Nepal’s village women “in a cosmopolitan New York full of impossible dreamers.”
Make that dreamers with active social lives ad great bodies, because for much of the collection, Gurung focused on evening looks with revealing cutouts inspired by the traditional choli blouse. Glamorous and high-heat, for sure, but the point would have registered as well in fewer variations; a little leather lacing and vibrant, high-shine satin go a long way. Conversely, a pair of saucy tweed day looks with waist-and-hip cutouts worked youthful charm, practicality be damned. Much of what wasn’t cut out was glitzed up in all-over, body-hugging sequins in notice-me shades – purple, hot pink, emerald green. Despite his preference for evening, Gurung showed a pair of a great looking coats, a tailored notched-collar camel with unfussy floral embroidery, and a stadium coat that he prettied up in a lovely rhododendron print inspired by the floral beauty of home.
