Greta Constantine brings big drama, big volume and perhaps most surprisingly, big modesty to the runway in their Fall 2019 ready-to-wear presentation

A recent trip to the famed “city of gold” in December, resulted in one of the most impactful FW19 shows during NYFW, courtesy of the designing dynamic duo of Greta Constantine. Based out of Toronto, head designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong have developed a line known for a strong, sophisticated aesthetic with an international feel. Their most recent collection, which draws inspiration from one of the world’s most luxurious destinations, Dubai, touched on the interplay between glamour and modesty that the city is known for. Predominantly made up of luxe, the collection has that instant ‘night out on the town” appeal, showing that sexy doesn’t always have to mean skin.

According to the pair of designers, their journey to the Middle East left them captivated, particularly as they observed the regal way that the city’s women carried themselves. [We were] “mesmerized how these [Emirate] women were made up and wearing their burkas — their clothing, just the way they are — they weren’t even trying to be modest. It was just their lifestyle and we thought, ‘We don’t have to show too much skin to be sexy,’” Pickersgill reminisced.

Textured prints met earthy hues, classic sequins and metallic tones in a collection that looked tailor-made for the upcoming FW season. The show, which was attended by many of the fashion world’s “who’s who”, including Miss J, of America’s Next Top Model fame, NY-based influencer Vanessa Samuel and the creative team at Vidal Sassoon, showcased 22 glamourous looks. The styling played around a lot with layers (as many a fall collection does), whilst seamlessly incorporating this idea of “modest glamour” into every look. The result was a presentation that captivated the audience from beginning to end, using contrasting elements of sultry fabrics, modest cuts and trendy layers.

Not only did the pair pay meticulous attention to styling, they also paid attention to their carbon footprint in the development of their collection. They took inventory of fabrics from previous collections that hadn’t quite worked in the way they’d hoped (or fabrics that hadn’t been worked enough), and included them into their current collection—even forgotten old fabrics that had been stored under a table.

Fans of Greta Constantine will certainly be pleased at the brand’s latest offering. The combination of eye-catching metallics and sparkles, juxtaposed with loose, flowing fits is the definition of understated sexy and is sure to make a splash in the fashion world this fall.