In F
ebruary 2023, Sergio Hudson revealed a SS23 collection dominated by charming neons, evoking a vibrant Barbie-inspired aesthetic. A few years earlier, Hudson faced significant personal and professional decisions, including determining his brand’s trajectory. During this challenging period, he found inspiration in an unexpected place: a colorful mural outside his showroom window, painted by a stranger. The mural, a motivational message reading “Believe you got this,” profoundly impacted Hudson.
He later discovered the artist was award-winning Jason Naylor. The inspirational mural remained in Hudson’s thoughts, influencing his latest collection. When starting his design process, Hudson reached out to Naylor via Instagram, proposing a collaboration. Naylor’s positive response led to the development of graffiti-inspired typography featured on a t-shirt, a type of item never included before in Hudson’s collection.
Naylor’s vibrant use of neons and gradients notably influenced the entire collection. Hudson acknowledged this direction was a deliberate effort to appeal to younger audiences. He admits he is influenced by young people as setting as trends, evident in how he styles himself as well. Younger women, including those in his own family, are his primary sources of inspiration.
Models in bright tweed suits, visible leather undergarments, corset-tailored dresses, and cinched pencil skirts went down the runway in an uplifting atmosphere listening to early ’90s dance hits encapsulating the youthful and vibrant spirit of Hudson’s SS23 collection. What they were wearing is what everybody fashionable is wearing right now. And we are even tempted to wear them way well into the fall/winter season as these pieces are sexy, uplifting, and well made, ideal for those party girls who invest in their wardrobes, building a personal style that is fun and flattering at the same time.
