For his Fashion Week presentation on Monday, designer LaQuan Smith took over one of New York’s most renowned venues, the Rainbow Room, where he showcased his Fall 2023 collection.

Smith transformed the opulent area on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza into a catwalk, complete with a front row full of famous people, including rapper Lil Nas X.

“This used to be where the high society would come and dance and get glammed up and drink champagne,” Smith said. “That is literally the lifestyle of the women that I dress.”

Models sported front- or side-slit dresses, striped jumpsuits, cropped tops, and long, form-fitting skirts.

Evening gowns sparkled or featured large slits, and jackets were paired with pencil skirts.

Olive, ivory, and eggplant shades were used to break up the dark colour scheme.

“This collection this season was really rich in texture when it came down to fabrications,” Smith stated.

“I worked with a lot of Italian boiled wools and double-faced satins. A lot of them stretched suedes, a lot of leather.”