Cushnie et Ochs, the brainchild of Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, is a newer line (their first collection appeared in Spring 2009), but in the short time they’ve been an active brand, they’ve also been producing effortlessly cool glamour. Backstage at the brand’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection, the same held true for beauty: a dark, shimmery smoky eye by MAC Cosmetics, sleek ponytails styled by Rodney Cutler with Redken products, and edgy white nails with a bold silver stripe cut into a stiletto shape by Patricia Yankee for China Glaze. The look was bold but subtle, meant to accessorize but not overpower the brand’s latest collection of smart, elegant dresses, swimsuits, and jumpsuits, skirts, vests, and more. Cushnie and Ochs, interestingly enough, were inspired by straitjackets and mental institutions for their latest collection, a detail visible in their use of belting and straps in many of the pieces. The designers take a different route for Spring/Summer 2014, eschewing the season’s all-too-typical brights and pastels, instead using bold purple and shimmery grays in addition to more traditional blacks and whites.
Sometimes people forget fashion doesn’t have to try so hard to be glamorous; sometimes all it takes is the clean line, luxurious fabric, and a sense of practicality that Cushnie et Ochs themselves have. In Cushnie et Ochs I personally have found one of my new favorite brands–chic, wearable, smart? I’m all yours, ladies.
Take a look at some pictures from backstage here (by moi!), and view the full collection (featuring Karlie Kloss on the runway!) on New York Magazine’s The Cut here.