Zadig & Voltaire has been known to put on a serious show and this season’s Fashion Show in New York City was no exception. There was a rock star vibe that permeated throughout the room and everyone felt it. There was something a little extra about the collection for this season and I instantly fell in love with all the leather and florals they were showing.

The show started off with an intense guest list of influencers, bloggers, fashionistas and celebrities. Zadig & Voltaire always draws a crowd and the fashion they brought to the event was next level. It’s an ode to the label when everyone who attends pulls out vintage Zadig & Voltaire, and on the streets this week I not only saw a lot of classic pieces, but also a style that just evoked the Zadig brand. Bell bottom jeans with traipsing leather belts and long frock-like leather jackets and blazers, it was kind of a 70s revival.

I rocked a serious orange fur coat to the show. Go big or go home, right? It’s fashion week! Head-to-toe Zadig & Voltaire (cuz at this point, they’ve taken over my wardrobe!) I pulled together a dark green cami with a tonal zebra pant. The boots were a last-minute swap because the look was calling on my brand new Black Suede Studio booties. I mixed colours, I fused textures and I did not go shy – I personally loved this look and can’t think of a better place to have worn it to!

The show was a mix between subdued and peaceful and strong and powerful. It sounds contrastive, but the music and the setting itself (that cork-like flooring and natural tones) were so muted. It lent itself to an atmosphere that felt intensely relaxing. It was eerie but in a sexy way. Then that soft rock music in the background that just created such a nostalgia. I loved it.

They brought in that strong and powerful element in the models they chose, the walk of the runway and of course, the suits. It felt like I was in a time warp, attending a glamorous concert in the 70s surrounded by rock stars. The monochromatic suits, the eclectic blending of fabrics and textures, the accent pieces – it was all just so elevated.

Cecilia Bönström cast such a strong line up with 40 women and 10 men. She explained in a clip I caught on Instagram that she chose models that best represent the brand based on character, how they wear the clothes and the silhouette. “I always love dressing women from all ages and from around the world. I love New York because it’s cosmopolitan, like Zadig & Voltaire. There are so many origins and cultures mixed together, that’s why we do our casting here,” she explains.

I’ve had my signature Zadig & Voltaire purse for a couple of seasons now. Personalized by the one and only Jormi, this purse is part of the staple Zadig look. But, this season, my eye was immediately drawn to the new shapes and styles for their handbags. The materials and the patterns, I mean they kind of swung it out of the park with their designs this season. Everyone was talking about them!

One thing I love about attending fashion shows, is taking a step back and just getting a meta look at what’s going on. I was so consumed by the show, but at one point in the show, I just stepped out of the micro-viewing and took a big look around. I was captivated by the venue. Zadig & Voltaire chose to create their runway in a space that had floor to ceiling windows. Street view allowed for pedestrians to look into the show. It created an added element of accessibility within inaccessibility. I just loved watching people watching us – but then I went back to the show!

Photography by Patricia Brochu