Fashion Designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin Presents Sensual Gender-Agnostic Collection at New York Fashion Week
Paris-based fashion designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin debuts a collection inspired by the work of artist Robert Mapplethorpe, featuring crystal mesh gowns, black leather, and BDSM-inspired masks. The collection embraces sexuality and challenges traditional gender norms.
Exploring Sensuality and Gender-Agnostic Fashion
Paris-based fashion designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin showcased his highly anticipated collection at New York Fashion Week. The collection draws inspiration from the alluring and once-taboo black-and-white photographs of artist Robert Mapplethorpe, known for his depictions of queer men during the AIDS crisis. Using crystal mesh gowns, black leather, and BDSM-inspired masks, de Saint Sernin translates Mapplethorpe's provocative art into a stunning and enchanting fashion collection.
The collection reflects de Saint Sernin's vision of gender-agnostic fashion and challenges traditional notions of femininity and masculinity. Diaphanous fabrics and barely-there tops adorned with Mapplethorpe's calla lilies and muscled bodies evoke sensuality and play with the idea of transparency. By collaborating with the late artist's foundation, de Saint Sernin continues the legacy of celebrating the bare eroticism of queer men in the fashion industry.
Embracing Sexuality and Self-Expression
De Saint Sernin's fashion label embraces a form of sensuality that is not limited by gender. The collection offers the freedom for anyone to express their feminine or masculine side and explore their own identity. With embellished halter tops and alluring cotton organdy designs, de Saint Sernin encourages individuals to celebrate their own sexuality and delights in risqué fashion pleasures.
In a video call with CNN, de Saint Sernin expressed his initial hesitations about the sensuality and sexual expression conveyed through his work. However, he now feels the need to fully embrace it and showcase it proudly. His vision of fashion is one that encourages individuals to explore and evolve their perspectives on gender and identity throughout their lives.
A Message of Self-Love and Celebration
Ludovic de Saint Sernin has gained recognition through his collaborations with high-profile celebrities and notable appearances on red carpets. By outfitting Olivia Rodrigo in Swarovski crystals for the MTV Video Music Awards and dressing Kim Kardashian in a daring leather 'cleavage dress', de Saint Sernin has become known for his message of self-love and self-expression through fashion.
One of his most viral moments was when Hunter Schafer wore a creation by de Saint Sernin to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Schafer's role as a trans teenager in 'Euphoria' resonated with de Saint Sernin's message of embracing one's true self. Now, with his debut at New York Fashion Week, de Saint Sernin aims to pay tribute to the city's vibrant creative culture and hopes to expand his brand's influence globally as a celebration of freedom and expression.
