Photos c/o Romeo Hunte
Romeo Hunte’s debut at New York Men’s Fashion Week was highly anticipated to say the least. After waiting nearly an hour in the lobby of Dream Hotel Downtown, in lines to check-in and get on the elevator, I was finally welcomed into the beautiful rooftop penthouse lounge where the fashion show was to be held. The setting, with its rich brown tones and orange chandeliers, created an earthy yet modern feeling that was amplified by the large glass walls, displaying the blue sky and New York Skyline—featuring the Empire State Building.
When the show began, the vibe was very electric and bright, with an upbeat soundtrack and a model donning neoprene. Neoprene was used for quite a few jackets in this collection, a functional, waterproof fabric for the summer. There were a few other reoccurring trends seen throughout his collection, such as fur, camo print, yellow and neon orange colors. As a whole, this show, to me, was very paradoxical. Being a spring/summer collection, I would expect lighter fabrics (definitely not fur) and less items like sweaters and jackets and more items like shirts and blouses. At the same time, I was intrigued by the collaboration of pieces like a large faded out gray jacket paired with short athletic shorts and no shirt. These juxtapositions of overcoats and wetsuits were innovative and unexpected, which is what we seek in fashion—to move forward. In a practical sense, I feel like this collection was largely a nod to New York and eastern springs, in which people really are still wearing sweatshirts and jackets. Romeo successfully exhibited his voice throughout the collection as I saw his expertise in powerfully designed outerwear—whether it be a trench coat or a blazer.
The diversity in models was something I was drawn to immediately. Diversity on runways shouldn’t have to be something “stand-out” but unfortunately not enough catwalks are met with the same diversity that Romeo had. He beautifully represented people of color, and even featured three women in his show. In attendance were celebrities such as Kat Graham of Vampire Diaries, NFL player Corey Clement, Derek Luke from 13 Reasons Why, and more. With this being the first menswear runway show I have attended, as well as Romeo’s first menswear collection, it was a success with outstanding pieces combining luxury and practicality.