Lafayette 148 Pre-Fall 2024 Lookbook

Lafayette 148, under the creative direction of Emily Smith, embarks on a journey beyond the familiar New York State landscape, venturing into the captivating terrain of Marfa, Texas, for its Pre-Fall 2024 collection. Inspired by the unique desolation, stunning landscapes, and crumbling architecture of the Texan town, Smith and her team seamlessly weave the essence of Marfa into a collection that transcends mere art references, focusing on the evocative mood of the place and its intrinsic connection to art and community.

Smith's visit to the Chinati Foundation in Marfa left an indelible mark, not just for its art but for the entire environment surrounding it. The drive from El Paso to Marfa, passing through a town with a mere 73 inhabitants, became the wellspring of inspiration for Lafayette 148's Pre-Fall 2024 collection. The desolation and beauty of the landscape, coupled with the crumbling architecture, are elegantly echoed in the garments.

The collection introduces novel fabrics and techniques that embody the spirit of Marfa. A trench coat, resembling oil slicks but intricately crafted from tree branches using Cyanotype printing, stands out. The fabric, woven with metallic yarn, allows for a customizable scrunched effect. Playfulness takes center stage as a metallic fabric with a velveteen finish is distressed and garment pleated, creating dresses and separates with a "rugged" texture reminiscent of concrete or tree bark.

While the collection is less about directly referencing Donald Judd's art, Lafayette 148 pays homage to the artist's influence. The iconic paper-thin leather is cut into squares and pieced together with delicate eyelets, forming a boxy short sleeve button-down and matching pencil skirt. These pieces, with their straight lines and negative space, subtly nod to Judd's work.

Beyond the novelty fabrics, the collection features pieces that embody effortless elegance. A silk and linen blend blouse in marigold sand, a brown tailored short suit in cotton poplin, and a sleeveless shift dress in cotton twill with frayed seams evoke the simplicity and beauty of the desert. Smith emphasizes the intention to avoid preciousness in the designs, drawing a parallel to the desert's absence of water. Fabrics are developed to quench the thirst for something new, refreshing, and effortlessly chic.