Ernest W. Baker is fast becoming a highlight on the Paris men’s schedule. Today’s sophomore show from the Porto-based label, which took place in a white-carpeted hall in Belleville, proved it. Sophisticated and cinematic, it marked Reid Baker and Inês Amorim out as a pair worth keeping a close eye on; you could imagine them one day being announced as creative directors of a much larger brand.
The couple were emotional backstage following the show. “We have a really high standard that we try to keep to, and we really work hard to raise our aesthetic every time,” said Baker. “Hopefully we executed something powerful.”
It was certainly power dressing. Opening with sharp tailoring and some elegant Dalmatian print on skirts and blouses, it read like something Cruella de Vil would have worn had she been a Wall Street big shot in the ’80s. Instead, it was the much cooler 1982 cult classic Smithereens that Baker and Amorim were inspired by, which also informed the bold punky checks that were mixed in, all finished off with leather driving gloves and wraparound statement sunglasses that lent a sleek edge.
The fabric development and tailoring complemented one another: sparse stripes of Swarovski crystals swirled around two black-suited looks that glinted deliciously as they moved, while another black cotton set-up was so sheeny it could have been leather.
“We’re always thinking about how to blendEuropean elegance with American rawness so it’s not overly classic or overly grungy. We can have a nice mix to break both and balance both, I think,” said Baker. To wit: one of the latter looks reimagined a leather biker and trousers as black tie. “We loved how simple it was to have this motorcycle jacket but then breaking it with the bow tie,” said Baker. “It’s very Ernest.” Earnest, too.