Proenza Schouler Fall Winter 2021
Image: Proenza Schouler

Ella Emhoff—the stepdaugher of Vice President Kamala Harris, who emerged as a quasi-style icon after wearing head-to-toe Miu Miu to the inauguration—only signed with IMG Models a few weeks ago, and already she’s booked a coveted gig on Proenza Schouler’s Fall 2021 runway. Emhoff joins the likes of Meadow Walker (daughter of Paul, an emerging fashion star in her own right) and runway veteran Lineisy Montero to unveil Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez pared-back, 36-look collection which was, as always, one of the standouts of New York Fashion Week schedule.

Proenza Schouler’s well-honed brand of aspirational minimalism was on full display—think square-shouldered blazers fastened with a single statement button, slinky ribbed knits, delicious leather belted coats.

Soft leather wrapped skirts, lace-up sandals, and oversized totes were reminiscent of the much obsessed over #OldCeline aesthetic (Proenza are among the coveted few brands seen as predecessors to Philo), while furry shearling house slippers and soft woollen separates gave a nod to our current #WFH lifestyle.

Proenza Schouler Fall Winter 2021
Image: Proenza Schouler

There’s much discussion about how fashion will change post-COVID-19.

Will our newfound social freedom turn us into a generation of unapologetic maximalists, akin to the unabashed hedonism of the last ‘roaring 20s’?

Will our current penchant for loungewear and slipons spill over into the ‘real world’? Will we be able—or willing—to return to high-heels, mini dresses, and other cumbersome pieces embraced solely for the sake of fashion?

For McCollough and Hernandez they’re banking on the answer being D) none of the above. Their deft intuition about what women actually want to wear has kept them among the most relevant brands in fashion for the better part of two decades (they’ll celebrate their 20th birthday next year)—and if the FW21 collection is anything to go by, they don’t think women’s post-lockdown tastes will change much at all. Instead, they’ll continue to flock to chic, beautifully-tailored, understated pieces with longevity.

Looking at these pieces (which are already available to pre-order, for those so inclined) it’s hard to argue with them. However, for those who can’t wait six months, there will be Proenza’s much-hyped impending capsule collaboration with The Outnet, launching globally on February 22nd and featuring iconic pieces from the brand’s archive, reworked in upcycled fabrics.

Speaking to Grazia, McCollough and Hernandez revealed they agreed to the collaboration as part of an increasing push to make their brand more sustainable. “The Outnet has been an amazing avenue for us to repurpose deadstock fabrics we may have leftover after a production run, and upcycle them in new and interesting ways,” the duo said. “Sustainability is something we have been focused on internally, and this has been an incredible exercise in using what we have to create something that feels fresh and new.” You can shop the collaboration from Monday February 22nd here.

Proenza Schouler Fall Winter 2021
Image: Proenza Schouler