Under the grandeur of the iconic mural of the New York Supreme Court, Cucculelli Shaheen unveiled Collection Seventeen for Fall Winter 2024, a spectacle that highlighted the brand’s mastery in lush embroidery and a subversive edge. Our photographer, Katie Borrazzo, was on the scene to capture exclusive backstage moments for DSCENE Magazine, providing a unique insight into the behind-the-scenes preparation and excitement.
The collection, aptly named Veritas after the Roman goddess of truth, underscores the New York-based brand’s commitment to blending opulent details with bold, innovative designs. The venue itself, with its majestic astrology mosaic floor, served as an inspiration for the creative partners, Anna Shaheen and Anthony Cucculelli. This season saw a revisitation of the brand’s classic themes of constellations and zodiac signs, intertwined with the architectural and historical essence of the courthouse. This alignment of venue and vision shows the collection’s profound connection to cosmic elegance and mystique.
Embracing the spirit of New York Fashion Week, the designers ventured into new territories with the introduction of suiting and separates, thereby expanding the brand’s repertoire and offering a more immersive experience into their world. The collection drew inspiration from The Night Beats, whose performances and music provided a dynamic backdrop to the creative process, infusing the designs with a rhythm and vitality that resonated through the season.
Collection Seventeen navigated the dichotomies of chaos and classicism, vice and virtue, capturing the essence of a feverish, dreamy city. The designers innovatively played with proportions and gender norms, presenting oversized pajama hybrid sets, tiered skirts paired with oversized tuxedo coats, and peaked strapless bustier dresses with sharp angles softened by petticoat skirts. This exploration of silhouette and form brought a fresh perspective to traditional menswear and womenswear elements, further enriched by a new crest hand-made in bullion, adding a luxurious touch to the clean lines of jackets and coats.
The fabric selection, ranging from wool and silk tuxedo tailoring to stiff tulle, silk Moiré, silk georgette, and silk cady, alongside a color palette that spans deep navy, silver, icy shades of blue, pearl, powder, champagne, pink, gold, green, and black, reflects the collection’s multifaceted character—moody, dramatic, romantic, yet undeniably imbued with a cosmopolitan New York edge.
The decision to showcase Collection Seventeen, titled ‘Veritas,’ at the New York Supreme Court was both symbolic and deeply personal, echoing a tattoo cherished by one of the designers. This setting not only lent an air of solemnity and grandeur to the presentation but also aligned perfectly with the thematic underpinnings of the collection.
