In what seems like a lifetime ago, I was a regular fixture during fashion week in NYC.
In February we would preview the upcoming collection on the runways for the following Fall/Winter; and in September the following year’s Spring/Summer.
The shows were exhilarating!
… and year after year I addictively attended, working my way up, eventually sitting front row.
There were a lot of shows and every one of them, an incredible performance, different from the next.
And I had my favourites;
Scotch & Soda (above), J.Crew, Lacoste, Desigual, Prabal Gurung being some of the highest profile shows I attended.
Each year I would attend dozens of shows and on many occasions, I had the pleasure of seeing designers show for the first time.
Enter 2017 and Hayley Elsaesser;
A Canadian fashion designer known for her vibrant, playful prints and bold designs that celebrate individuality and self-expression.
Unknown to many in New York, I had actually been quietly following Elsaesser’s career and coveting her aesthetic for some time.
So when the invite came in, I was elated to attend.
The collection was exciting, lively, creative and like nothing I had ever seen at NYFW before.
With nods to my childhood, some celebrating My Little Pony, this was one of the first times I had seen an iconic animation reimagined into fashion, and I was over the moon.
Elsaesser was ahead of her time and I often think of her as a pioneer of retro pop cultural revival.
Her show/presentation was an experience I often think about. Now many years later, I consider it one of the best and most personable shows/presentations I ever attended during NYFW.
From then until now, I have kept both eyes on Elsaessers career, fun prints and numerous collaborations with brands like Microsoft and Coors Slice, all while continuing to fall in love more and more.
Recently, another collab collection hit stores, this time with Specsavers x Hayley Elsaesser.
An eyewear line featuring 13 optical frames and 6 sunglasses.
The collection, which starts at $199 for two pairs, includes single-vision prescription lenses and is now available at all Specsavers locations… as a loyal fan I had to get my hands on a couple pairs!
So what did I choose?
Both pairs of her Bloom Sun RX.
2 bold and colorful floral patterns that are uniquely Elsaesser!
The perfect sun accessory for my upcoming trip to Coachella in April.
One of my favorite Canadian fashion designers does it again… and I’m still in love!
Mr. Fab
