Byron Lars (www.inearnestofficial.com) is one of those rarities in the fashion world – a designer who has gathered an impressive army of fans & supporters but knows how to keep them asking for more. As to the “more” he’s been consistently delivering satisfying collections dating as far back as 1991, when he began designing under his own label. That same year, WWD anointed him “Rookie of the Year.” Lars has proven his design prowess over the years, skillfully adapting elements from men’s shirts, reshaping the bust, and deconstructing the shirt to include a built-in bra for shaping resulting in an undeniably feminine look.
This sculpted camp shirt with a full lace bra built into the inside of the shirt & seams on the outside, has played a part in making Lars a fan favorite with legions of fashion lovers that include celebrity A-listers, Natalie Portman, Taylor Swift, Angela Bassett, Elle Fanning, and Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama to name a few.
My Fall 2023 collection is all about valiant femininity with clothes that harken to a kind of heroism as I see it.
Byron Earnest Lars, Designer
This season, Lars chose to show digitally & stayed true to form, keeping his latest collection lean & mean, showing only 12 looks. He made a dramatic pronouncement when describing his fall 2023 collection – “Valiant Femininity Proves Heroic for Fall 2023”.
Before we dive into just what that means, we’ll say this – what we can expect from this designer is the unexpected & another delightful “historical mashup” that has been an integral part of his design signature since he founded his brand. Some of the looks were made of faux chainmail & inspired by the garments worn underneath the massive metal coats of armor, that the legendary Knights of the Round Table wore. Lars, and his design partner, Sheila Gray, described the clothing as “armor for the modern woman”.
There were three standout looks in this capsule collection. The first was a supple chocolate brown vegan leather jacket with puff sleeves, patch pockets & a ruffled collar. The jacket had the bra construction that is a Byron Lars signature, and one that is beloved by his fans. Worn with a flirty tweed & lace culotte, the result is “tuff glam”.
The second look was a duo of two double breasted sharply tailored black coatdresses with big brass buttons that were feminized thanks to puff sleeves & a flattering A-line silhouette. The look was in line with the tailored dress & suit trend seen this season, also seen at Kevan Hall & Inherent.
The third standout look was a skirt set with a fitted buttoned up long sleeve top & an abstract print (also on trend) A-line midi skirt.
Stay tuned for next season. Perhaps we’ll see Byron Lars back on the runway as the fashion powers that be (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, to name a few) are clamoring for Byron to have a show.
-Vivian Kelly (@thefashionhistorian)
