Review: Winnie New York Spring/Summer 2023 Collection

Designer Idris Balogun of Winnie New York is having the best year, and we're still weeks shy of the halfway point. Within the first six months of 2022, the Nigerian-born designer was shortlisted as a semifinalist for the 2022 LVMH Prize. He tied for the LVMH Prize Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize, receiving about 150,000 euros (or about $161,000 according to Grazia Magazine) and one year of mentorship from the LVMH Group. And today, for the second time this year, Balogun successfully showcased his latest menswear collection during Paris Fashion Week.

For Spring/Summer 2023, Idris Balogun ditched the traditional runway and presentation formats and presented his lineup as an art installation. The clothes hung from the ceiling thanks to invisible hanging wire, allowing showgoers to see and spend real time with each garment and their impeccable detailing. Balogun's time earning his stripes working on the legendary Savile Row and for Burberry and Tom Ford is quite evident in tailoring on hand-dyed ombre trench coats and suede jackets with exposed stitching.

There's also functionality in the garments thanks to zip-up pockets on the sleeves of shirting and outwear. But the most fun pieces were the colorful pants in shades of purple and green, sherbet color boxing shorts with matching tops, and windmill-adorned dad hats. It was a beautiful showing of classic menswear in an era where men's fashion and men's street style feel more gender fluidity, unisex and womenswear-inspired. Yes, we know clothes have no gender. We celebrate all forms of style expression, but we love menswear with a man in mind.