For spring, Batsheva Hay did what she does best: bucked against the industry norm. In lieu of a traditional presentation or intimate studio visit, Batsheva staged a guerrilla runway show on the streets of New York City. On a hot Wednesday afternoon, the designer gathered models, composed of friends, familiar campaign faces, and some street-cast stars, in her NoLIta storefront to prepare for the occasion before setting off to Washington Square Park. “We’ve done really wacky in front of an audience, we’ve done really wacky in front of the store, but what felt like the wackiest was to really do something without any prepared audience, using the city as the stage,” said Hay.
Walking into the park trailing 10 models clad in Batsheva designs with neon “Paris meets Troll Doll” wigs felt akin to following a row of psychedelic ducklings, clad in sheer organza plaids and ditsy florals, into the circus. Some people stopped, stared, and took pictures with their phones as the group circled the waterless fountain before getting in. Most onlookers went about their business entirely unfazed—that’s the beauty of New York.
The hero item of the season was a drop-waist circle skirt inspired by a 1980s Norma Kamali style that Hay has been sporting of late. There were also some 1920s easy drop waist dresses. Pairing was kept simple, with cutesy tops to match, like a full sleeved button-down blouse or a cropped sailor top. Most experimental for the designer was a small batch of lingerie-inspired items whose sheerness is always a welcome addition to a Batsheva collection. After taking a brief break to hit a Mister Softee truck on the edge of the park, the ensemble descended into the subway for part two (they staged another show and shoot underground). So it goes with the NYC daily commute.