Fashion month may have come and gone, but the looks that went down the runways of each city have stuck around in our minds (and shopping carts). While familiar designers such as Prada and Tory Burch brought their exquisite taste to satisfy our fashion palates, there were quite a few under-the-radar brands that also made a lasting presence. Since award season was right after fashion month, it was clear that we weren’t the only ones taking notes. Red carpets are usually filled with stylists’ go-to haute couture looks, but this time, celebrities were dressed in a variety of custom and runway looks from the newcomers of fashion.
Earing a time slot on the fashion-month calendar is a moment that takes years of work, and these brands certainly proved they have what it takes to break through the mainstream mold. The brands below are ones that are garnering the same excitement as bigger labels and express such creativity and innovation with their designs. It’s no secret that fashion can get a bit repetitive, but these designers are bringing excitement back into clothing.
Keep scrolling to discover what makes each of these brands so notable, and prepare to see them everywhere soon.
Fashion is already a hard world to break into, and when you add couture, there are even more obstacles pushed your way. But according to Vogue, Bach Mai is an American couturier in the making. With gigs at Oscar de la Renta and Maison Margiela under John Galliano, Mai is no stranger to atelier work. His gowns offer expert-level craftsmanship, and with stock available at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, the brand is ready to dress you for all your formal needs. Most recently, the designer caught attention at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, where Law Roach styled Megan Thee Stallion for her return to the carpet in custom Bach Mai.
Queens-based designer Colin LoCascio held senior and director roles at Retrofête and Kendall + Kylie, so it’s clear he has an eye for the playful aesthetic. With his own brand, he was able to take his vision to the next level. Known for his use of floral appliques, sequins, and vibrant hues, LoCascio brings a fresh element of fun to classic silhouettes like denim jackets and slip dresses.
“Apocalyptic chic” is how many were describing Elena Velez’s collections, as the designer pays homage to her Wisconsin roots. Features you can find in Velez’s looks are ripped and layered sheer fabrics, muted tones, and corsets. Though she only founded the brand in 2020, she already has a CFDA Award under her belt, winning American Emerging Designer of the Year back in November.
Daniella Kallmeyer takes power dressing to a whole new landscape, blending menswear-inspired silhouettes with an understated romantic polish. You could own one collection and simply need no other piece in your wardrobe—she covers all the bases. Nipped-in waistcoats, roomy trousers, and structured dresses are what you’ll find in the collections. The word “chic” can be a tad overdone, but if there were a word that transcended that meaning, that’s what we would use to describe Kallmeyer.
A recent graduate from Savannah College of Art and Design, Kate Barton was named “one to watch” by WWD late last year. Her looks are innovative and sculptural but still feel wearable. It’s not just the dresses that grab your attention—it’s the accessories too. The metallic sculpted belt, glass rose clutch, and goldfish bag are what immediately caught our eye. (and Heidi Klum’s, too, as she wore the latter on the red carpet recently).
One look at Róisín Pierce’s use and manipulation of lace, organza, and satin is enough to put you in a trance. Each look has an angelic quality to it, and it’s clear with each thoughtful design that the Irish designer sets each piece of fabric with an immense level of purpose. Pierce’s work is inherently tied to her Irish heritage, whether it’s channeling the stories of her childhood or drawing attention to the long history of oppression of women by the Irish Catholic church and state.
Known as the brand that creates dresses for the not-so-typical bride, Wiederhoeft brings an element of theatrics to fashion. Launching their first bridal collection during the pandemic, the designer’s goal was to create dresses that strayed away from the common narrative. And in their world, everyone gets to be a bride—gender roles and traditions cast aside.
