PRISCAVera Gets Bossy

February 14, 2023

Fashioning oneself often takes precedence over all else, whether one is heading out to work or to a party. While comfort is of course the most important element of dress, what one decides to wear is often determined by the culture of the anticipated environment.

PRISCAVera's Fall/Winter 2023 show reminded us that 'how I look' and 'how I feel' need not be in conflict. Founded in 2015 by Italian designer Prisca Vera Franchetti, the brand returns to the runway with a renewed energy — boasting what Prisca refers to as a bossy attitude. After speaking with Prisca, we learned that bossy has nothing to do with professionalism, it is about feeling empowered — encompassing the multifaceted life of the PRISCAVera woman.

Silk, velvet, and semi-transparent materials; green tartan print, mesh, and houndstooth; sleek corsets, low-rise bottoms and contrast stitch suits are all strewn together through their collective sense of femininity, freedom and ironic humor Prisca is known for. Still a shift from her previous work, the collection presents an aperture for authenticity in fantasy.

Interview by Audry Hiaoui
Photography by Matthew Weinberger

office caught up with Prisca right after the runway show to talk about her personal connection to this season’s pieces — sharing a moment of self-reflection with a refreshingly genuine warmth and heartfulness.

How do you look at your last collection in comparison to this one?

I feel in a similar way to you. It feels more personal too — it feels more like me. I think the last collection was very much about celebrating your body and being empowered. I’ve always been very interested in the definition of empowerment, and what that really means. And it means such different things for so many different people — especially women. Last season was more about a sense of fun and confidence, but also feeling good within yourself, and this season it was really bringing that conversation that you have with yourself — in terms of wardrobe — of having more of a choice of what you want to say to the viewer. The person who you’re meeting for an office job, or if you’re going out to a party. What you’re trying to say for how to express yourself, but in a deeper, more personal way.

I don’t think you should ever take yourself too seriously because that never helps anyone.

Do you see yourself represented in this collection?

I was talking to a friend about it recently — where we were all talking about how we dress, and why, and it was a very interesting conversation to me because it's kind of like the whole point of why I’m doing what I do, and some friends were like, “I know who I want to be, and I look for a wardrobe to help me convey that sense.” And others are just, “I really want to be a character tonight. I want to be like a warrior, and then today I want to wear sweatpants.” Not only with yourself, but also with the way people see you as the chill, relaxed person, or like really bossy. So, I think personally, I really feel like I like to be different characters. And I like the way I dress to even surprise people — you know, on a personal level. If I’m going out, I can show up anyway, in pajamas, or I can just say, “tonight I’m going to really dress up, and wear something very loud, and I feel very good in,” and I think in my personal way, I really try to tackle every potential character. I related more to that.

You mentioned the word bossy. How would you describe ‘bossiness’ being part of these looks?

What does it mean to be a leader in the work or in your life? I think being bossy is saying what you want, and how you want it. It’s not always been super easy for me to do that. And I think that if you understand how you want to say that, it doesn’t need to be bitchy. You can be bossy, and be pretty nice, and very respectful. It’s also that definition of bossy for me. I like women saying what they want.

Yeah, I know, the way you’re talking about it, you’re making me emotional just thinking about that.

It was very emotional for me — the process.

In general, I’ve seen your work also related to humor. How would you say humor shows up?

I think that in order to live today and be a contemporary person, you need to understand that we’re living in a very absurd world, and everything is absurd. And if you don’t have a sense of humor, you just get completely lost. So, if you have to dress for a party, you want to wear something cheeky, you want to show this and that, it has to be with irony. I don’t think you should ever take yourself too seriously because that never helps anyone.

Fashion

ECCO.kollektive collaborates with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi

November 21, 2024

ECCO.kollektive has teamed up with Paris-based designer Louis-Gabriel Nouchi for a bold and innovative Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Known for his thoughtful exploration of masculinity and storytelling in fashion, Nouchi brings his unique perspective to this collaboration, blending his modern aesthetic with ECCO’s skill in craftsmanship and material innovation.

The collection features a range of footwear, clothing, and accessories, each designed with attention to detail. The collection uses a mix of black, deep red, and pearl white. Sensual touches, like Nouchi’s signature slits, combine with structured tailoring and flowing shapes, showing how the designer blends bold and refined styles.

We spoke with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi about the collection and his inspiration. From the textures of the human body to his love for stretch leather, Nouchi shared how the collaboration allowed to experiment with new ideas.

By Enzo Holdt
Photography by courtesy of ECCO.kollektive x LGN

The collection debuted at Paris Fashion Week and draws inspiration from the textures of the human body. “The idea came from the textures of skin,” Nouchi explains. “I wanted to create something sensual and fluid, using leather in a way that felt both strong and soft. Leather has this amazing quality—it can feel like armor, but also like a second skin.”

Nouchi worked closely with ECCO to develop designs that showcase the versatility of their materials. High-shine biker nappa leather with a waxy finish appears in tailored separates like a single-breasted blazer, trousers, and long-line shorts. For a more experimental edge, he created a column dress and a pencil skirt using strips of leather embroidered onto stretchy tulle—a design he says was inspired by his younger self. “When I was young, I was obsessed with stretch leather because of designers like Jean-Claude Jitrois. It’s something I wanted to explore and bring into this collection, almost like fulfilling a dream for my past self.”

Footwear is another major highlight, featuring Derby shoes, Helsinki loafers, and the standout Truck Lace loafer with a bold platform. The shoe’s futuristic design draws from Nouchi’s fascination with brutalism and technology. “It might be a bit controversial,” he says, laughing, “but I really like the Tesla Cybertruck. The sharp, angular lines and futuristic look combined with that raw, brutalist vibe—it’s something that resonates with me. The platform on the Truck Lace loafer feels like a nod to that kind of design.”

Another unique detail is the inclusion of removable coins on some of the shoes, adding a playful yet personal touch. “You can take the coins off—it becomes almost like a lucky charm,” Nouchi says. “It’s one of those small details that make the pieces feel more connected to the wearer.”

Louis-Gabriel Nouchi’s signature slit motif, which adds subtle hints of reveal and concealment, runs throughout the collection. “The slit is about teasing the eye,” he explains. “It’s never about revealing too much—it’s about creating tension, a little mystery.” This motif appears on everything from loafers to hems, blending seamlessly with the collection's sensual yet structured aesthetic.

When asked about the versatility of his designs, Nouchi emphasizes their adaptability to different occasions. “You can wear these pieces in super casual situations on the street, looking super chic at night—super sexy,” he says. “From one garment, you can style it in so many ways during the day. For example, the tank top—you can wear it with pants, or without. It’s super hot, super cool, and it works for so many moments.”

For Nouchi, the collaboration with ECCO was as much about innovation as it was about creative freedom. “There are no limits with ECCO,” he says. “As a designer obsessed with materials, having the freedom to push development this far was an amazing opportunity. Fashion, for me, is like a laboratory. It’s about testing ideas and seeing how far we can take them.”

The ECCO.kollektive x Louis-Gabriel Nouchi collection is available now, combining high-quality craftsmanship with bold, modern design that showcases Nouchi’s vision and ECCO’s craftsmanship.

Fashion

A New Lee® and Alpha Industries Collaboration Takes Flight

Fashion

Escaping the Glass Cage

November 19, 2024

For years, she stood still, watching life rush past her, a quiet observer behind the glass. Now, the glass is broken, and she steps out into the unknown. She walks through the city, caught between two worlds—part of it, yet apart from it.

Her journey is quiet but bold, searching for something she’s never understood, something just out of reach. On church steps and under glowing city lights, she questions everything: the rules, the past, and where she truly belongs. Each step feels both freeing and uncertain.

A curious soul in a borrowed life, she keeps moving forward, leaving behind only whispers of her escape, like a fleeting shadow in the night.