Cucculelli Shaheen presented Collection Sixteen (Spring/Summer 2024) under the beautiful arch of the Manhattan Municipal Building. Titled “American Venus,” Collection Sixteen is named after the original American Venus who posed for the statue that sits atop the Manhattan Municipal Building, and is inspired by the wild energy of New York. This season, the combination of the romantic beauty of Beaux-Arts is contrasted with the grittiness of the city for an unexpected twist.
The collection features airy fabrics and embroideries for the Spring season, like tulles and organza layered for frothy transparency, in relaxed silhouettes with voluminous detachable sleeves to add a hint of romance. Cucculelli Shaheen developed a brand-new technique, the Crystal Grid, which gives a ton of sparkle and is incredibly light weight, beautifully capturing the light.
“The inspiration for the color palette comes from a walk that we took over the Manhattan Bridge at sunset in the Spring, as we caught a glimpse of Manhattan on the way home. We could see the show venue in the distance, and we loved how the beautiful oranges and reds popped against the golden statue of the building”, said Co-Creative Director, Anna Shaheen. American Venus presents motifs inspired by the Beaux Arts, such as the Lock + Key Lace motif and the Metal Leaves and Florets, inspired by gilded statues of the time. A key style this season is East-West jacket, paired with either slouchy pants or a high-waist wide leg. The brand’s new take on a matching set is their slouchy collared top and trousers, offered with a western feeling on silk twill or as a fully beaded glamor moment – the perfect combination of Downtown western noir and Beau-Arts sophistication.
“We love the energy that doing a show during NYFW brings. As we are always inspired by living and working in New York City, the show allows us to really showcase that kinetic feeling live and in motion with our community”, said Co-Creative Director, Anthony Cucculelli. To capture the immense beauty of the show space, the runway show took place at dusk for a diffused look, which contrasts with their last show at Webster Hall. The music embodies the moody chaos of downtown New York – a little edgy, a little twangy, a little wild. Rounding out the show this season included once again the appearance on the runway by winner of Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jaida Essence Hall, along with models like Nariah Noelle, Anisha Sandhu, Emma Gu, Anyon Asola, Mijo Mihaljchic.
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About Cucculelli Shaheen
Cucculelli Shaheen is a New York City-based luxury couture brand founded in 2016 by married duo Anthony Cucculelli and Anna Rose Shaheen. The two met working in downtown NY in the mid-aughts, while a stint designing in Florence, Italy, amplified their design partnership. They have been creating together ever since. Their previous work includes illustrious brands such as Emilio Pucci, Oscar de la Renta, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Yigal Azrouël, and Roberto Cavalli.
Cucculelli Shaheen is defined by its synthesis of lush embroidery, effortless silhouette, and subversive edge. Inspiration is drawn from classical art, music, mythology, and New York City. Cucculelli Shaheen has been consistently featured in leading art, lifestyle, and news publications globally, including Vogue, the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Brides, The Coveteur, The Telegraph, Whitewall, the BBC, and WWD, and is proud to dress a diverse group of powerful and charismatic people, including Oscar-nominees, musicians, television personalities, and social media megastars.
Images courtesy of Indigital
