iPhone outtakes by Zamiya & Maya

Commencing the 2 pm show, the familiar sound of “Angel” by Massive Attack ushered the models in one by one. From head to toe, the language of the garments and accessories was “an ode to a time without technology.” Each model moved to the beat in a “sort of sultry kind of walk,” slowly dragging their steps. Evangeline shared that their pacing was intentional: “The way I was looking at it, they were all [shipwrecked] crew members.

Drawing from her British and Scottish heritage, Evangeline turned to period garments to highlight the contrast between textural opposites, encapsulated by a genderless twist. Throughout the collection, it was difficult to discern where the body ends and the animal form begins. From lamb leather corsets to a flared skirt with feathers flowing out of its bustle, alongside the brand’s notorious deer antler bags and a structural leather frock coat with a shimmering snake skin aligned on the spine, each piece transformed the body through references to the natural world, connecting the past with the modern wearer.

“I usually just work with blacks, which I did for my final collection in university.” For ‘Pieces of Eight,’ Evangeline expanded upon her typical palette by introducing an array of creams and grays. One of the stars of the show was an oversized black red-deer leather bag, layered with lambskin, tassels, and sheepskin, held by winding antlers. These statement pieces accompanied several looks, reinforcing the atelier’s signature forms and heightening the collection’s sense of drama. 

With 2 shows and a vintage shopping experience accompanying the 5 pm viewing, Angéline’s S/S 2027 debut immersed us in a world fascinated by sensuality, the body, and nature. Although a London-based designer, Evangeline’s first NYFW presentation found a natural home in the city’s independent fashion scene; ‘Pieces of Eight’ carved out its own dark space.