‘Sex appeal’: Australian designer Dion Lee unveils leather harnesses and lace corsets in New York
Australian designer Dion Lee has channelled luxury S&M in his new fashion collection that has been well-received globally at New York Fashion Week.
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With lace corsets and leather belts, straps and harnesses, Australian designer Dion Lee has stunned New York Fashion Week with his latest ready-to-wear collection.
The Sydney designer seemed to put a high-fashion spin on S&M for his spring/summer ‘20 range, which debuted at Manahttan’s New Design High School.
The front row featured Australia’s well-heeled style set including Vogue Australia’s Christine Centenera, and models Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Cat McNeil and Victoria Lee, along with former Girls actor Jemima Kirke.
Stellar Magazine’s Style Director Kelly Hume said the collection reflected a global trend of putting “underpininngs” on the exterior of a garment.
“Dion has always played with that aesthetic throughout his career, all of his collections touch on what underpinnings women wear,” she said.
“He’s known for puttung underpinnings on the exterior of a garment.
“He also plays with the construction of the human body in his designs. He has always played on the skeleton as lingerie.”
Ms Hume said this collection has a “nod to S&M” in it, but it has been done in a “really considerate, chic way that does not feel overt”.
The celebrity-favourite designer showed bra-style tops made of cream-coloured leather straps, harness vests and garter belts that hooked on to thigh-high white boots.
Lee’s collection included a leather harness collaboration with Fleet Ilya, made in its London atelier.
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He also debuted his first-ever bag collection. In further evidence of NYFW’s trend towards “see now, buy now”, Lee’s bag range was made available to shop straight from the runway.
Models wore white corsets, which had been worn earlier at Fashion Week by supermodel Bella Hadid, who teamed her Dion Lee undergarment with a pair of wide-legged tracksuit pants, a blazer and sneakers.
Lee’s collection was praised by international critics including Women’s Wear Daily,“for its ability to balance full coverage with sex appeal”.
Speaking to WWD, Lee said androgyny was a key inspiration this season.
“I think it very much came from me finding that a lot of women around me are dressing in men’s clothes and I think men are more comfortable experimenting with feminine silhouettes,” Lee told the respected fashion site.
“I think it was about me identifying with the clothes personally, as well, and marrying my personal taste with the brand.”
As for underwear as outerwear, Lee said: “It was really using this motif of hosiery and garters in both men’s and women’s wear”.
