Held at the iconic Rockefeller Center, a location that symbolizes both high art and commercial success, Lopez debuted 53 looks that straddled the line between avant-garde and accessible. The title, rooted in Dominican culture and embraced by the queer community, resonated throughout the show. Much like the phrase, the collection felt as though it would leave its mark long after the final look had left the runway.
As attendees settled into their seats, the familiar flags of Rockefeller Plaza lined the catwalk. The soundtrack boomed through car-sized speakers, chanting what sounded like “Luar” in a rhythmic, hypnotic loop, reminiscent of an unapologetically loud Dominican block party. Lopez himself quipped, “They gave me the flags, so we gotta bring in the cars,” perfectly encapsulating the show’s fusion of high fashion with the New York-grit and energy of his roots.
Lopez’s collection paid homage to his past, with cocooned silhouettes representing transformation and resilience, and warped leopard prints in pony hair reflecting the primal instincts of survival in the city. The meticulous blend of textures, from Italian-merino wool to beaded mesh sets, invoked a sense of Lopez coming full circle, rekindling the purity of his “old self,” as seen in hooded floor-length gowns.