Hellessy Fall 2024: A Conversation with Creative Director Sylvie Millstein
Hellessy unveiled its Fall 2024 collection during New York Fashion Week. The brand’s classic and timeless elegance is on full display, mixing high and low elements in a perfect representation of the modern Hellessy woman. PhotoBook Magazine spoke to founder and creative director, Sylvie Millstein, to discuss the newest collection.
Where did the inspiration for this collection come from?
Quiet luxury with a touch of glam. I stay true to my philosophy of offering cool girl separates, menswear inspired. This season I am delving deeper into the concept of refined embellishment on day separates, transforming wardrobe staples into head-turning daytime pieces that can become night out options as well. From crystal embroideries that look like constellations, to crystal fringe drips and hammered gold button adornments, each shirt or denim item is elevated in a unique but timeless manner.
In a time where there is a lot of talk surrounding the lack of women in creative director roles, what does it mean to you to be a founder and creative director of your own brand?
It is a topic that definitely deserves to be at the forefront of conversations, and I am proud to run HELLESSY for more than ten years independently. I hope my journey can inspire other women to never be afraid to speak up and keep going.
Tell me about the transition from marketing other's designs to designing your own brand? Did your background in marketing help you understand what people want from a brand?
Having worked in marketing for a long time means that, yes, I understand what people want and are looking for. However, it is also true that consumer behaviors and wants change dramatically, especially in an industry where everything is made to be desirable. I design with women in mind, independent and on-the-go, who are not afraid to merge femininity with a touch of edginess.
Speaking of your background, you have lived in France, Japan, and New York - How has this influenced your designs?
When we finish the designing process of a collection, I am always told something along the lines of “this time we can definitely see the Japanese influence” or “this time the color palette screams Miami,” which is the city I have been living in for the past four years. For a designer, it’s impossible not to be influenced by their environment, from the people, to the art, to the silhouettes.
Hellessy has often been described as timeless; how do you navigate designing for a trendless brand in the current age of ever-changing microtrends?
Microtrends are not something we take into consideration for our collections, having a lifespan of three months, instead we tend to look at the wider picture. We have our silhouettes and designs that are signatures and that people recognize HELLESSY for. The same, are offered season after season, updated with a new, fresh twist and details that might nod to bigger trends.
Do you have anything you can share with us about what's next for Hellessy?
2023 was our 10-year anniversary, and I am looking forward to the next ten!
Article + Tearsheets by Skylar Miller, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
*All photos courtesy of Hellessy
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