Natalie De’Banco’s Safari-Inspired Fashion Show Introduced Colors and a Menswear Collection
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Picture yourself falling asleep and waking up in an enchanted oasis full of outfits that vacation dreams are made of. This is the feeling I had watching the Bronx and Banco NYFW runway show on a sunny day at New York’s Pier 45.
Designer Natalie De’banco took us on a journey starting off with a model starting off the show wearing a dress made of rope material and glowing in her melanin as the sun touched her skin while she glided down the boardwalk.
The show continued with outfits that showcased movement, and never dismissed giving us a healthy serving of skin. The brand’s signature playfulness and fun continued to show in this collection while showcasing hues of earth tones and colors.
One big thing to note that I loved about this collection was the options for men, something that I personally have not seen done by the brand, and the models were mainly of color.
Fashion Aesthetic of the Day, All the Way
A full-body jumpsuit in cow print patterns and a dress made completely out of gold chains were some of the outfits that stood out to me and showcase De’banco’s continuous efforts to explore and tell a story based on the theme of her collections. Something that she has down in the past. She also simultaneously designed for the modern woman going on safari.
“This collection is an updated version of what [the modern woman could] wear on safari,” says De’Banco. “We took her classic khaki jumpsuit and updated it, giving it a shorter short and a new print.
She added,
That said, I did want to keep the colors authentic by incorporating the whites and golds, but I’m happy to leave khaki in 2009.”
There was no shortage of form-fitting and free-flowing gowns that Bronx and Banco fans love. One that left me in awe was these lime green and salmon pink sheer fabric gowns that gave the models an illusion that they were floating.
Another was a half-up and half-down tulle dress that gave a ballerina-like look while the top crisscrossed to cover the chest and flowed in the back. This look was a great reminder that more is more with a Bronx and Banco collection. Every piece leaves a big statement.
Natalie De’banco’s ‘Burnt By The Sun’ Influence
De’Banco, and this safari-inspired Spring Summer 23 runway presentation was no different than her previous collections and amazing patterns.
Inspired by travel and her love for animals, the fashion enthusiast admitted that she lived out her dream of visiting a safari which help to shape this year’s assortment.
“In a nutshell, my creative process starts with a song, then a trip, then a sketch,” she said. “I have a tremendous love for animals and feel connected to nature. Because of this, I wanted to design a collection inspired by that experience.”