With light at the end of the tunnel, Harpern’s collective experience over the last two years can often feel surreal. The demi-couture at the heart of Halpern was never about escapism, but on the contrary, about infusing real life with a kind of glamour that lifts the spirits. During the last 24 months, this premise gained new relevance for the designer, who dedicated his two pandemic-era films to the community spirit. So when, for Fall-Winter 2022, Michael Halpern asks the question, “What if it was all a dream?” it isn’t to escape the reality of our surreal collective experience, but to accentuate the fact that it happened.

With that in mind, the collection takes its departure in a dreamlike narrative. Halpern imagines Angelica Houston – an eternal inspiration – waking up from a deep, two-year sleep to find herself in a 1970s ’party version – via 2022 – of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1930 classic Madam Satan starring his illustrious daughter Katherine DeMille. Aboard the Zeppelin CB-P-55 where the film is set, 1920s silhouettes splice with those of the 1970s, considered through a contemporary lens. The collection loosely pays homage to the costumes and personal wardrobe of Katherine DeMille, who joins Angelica Houston on the starry sky of Halpern muses.
The fantastical orchestration unfolds in the Brixton Recreational Centre. A haven for the local community where a wide array of sports and activities are practised, the choice of location echoes Halpern’s pledge to carry on the social aspects that underpinned the brand’s films during the pandemic. In keeping with those intentions, the power installed by production in the space – which didn’t previously have electricity – will be donated to the centre for community use after the show.

1 Ivory and gold tiger-motif velvet burnout chiffon bare-shouldered fluted column gown with a gold bauble-embroidered collar 2 Flamingo pink satin draped bustier mini dress with an exaggerated train worn over an ivory and gold tiger-motif velvet burnout crinkled chiffon jumpsuit 3 Ivory and gold tiger-motif velvet burnout chiffon open-back asymmetric midi dress 4 Flamingo pink and lime satin draped and twisted bust dress 5 Flamingo pink and lime satin draped bustier worn over aerial motif sequinned stovepipe trousers 6 Ivory and gold tiger-motif velvet burnout crinkled chiffon bow kaftan 7 Flamingo pink satin train gown with a diamond-shaped bust swathed in pink and yellow pastel viscose fringe 8 Flamingo pink and lime satin open-back asymmetric midi dress 9 Lime and maroon sequin-embroidered maroon georgette multi-tier ruched gown 10 Lime and maroon sequin-embroidered maroon georgette kaftan with an exaggerated train 11 Neon pink French tweed shawl-collared jacket with a matching pencil skirt 12 Fuchsia, white and black ombré viscose fringe jumpsuit with sequin-inlay trousers and tiered fringing 13 Neon yellow French tweed cropped jacket with a matching fringed mini skirt 14 Neon yellow French tweed expression worn over a matching column skirt 15 Lime satin hooded bias-cut gown 16 White crinkled chiffon draped-sleeve gown 17 White crinkled chiffon draped high-slit chemise dress 18 White crinkled chiffon draped and hand pleated exaggerated cowl gown with crystal collar, crown, and veil 19 Pale pink satin ruched caterpillar dress 20 Pale pink satin exposed-back bow mini dress 21 Pale pink satin corseted jumpsuit worn over a multi-colour pastel fringe polo neck 22 Multi-colour ombré viscose brick fringe gown with a matching 23hood Multi-coloured aerial-motif sequinned bustier midi dress 24 Multi-coloured aerial-motif sequinned jumpsuit with a diamond-shaped brassiere 25 Multi-coloured aerial-motif sequinned bareback column gown with clear crystal collar 26 Multi-coloured aerial-motif sequinned asymmetric bustier gown with an amethyst crystal-embroidered collar and a single sleeve expression 27 Navy, neon yellow and black ombré viscose brick fringe pencil trousers worn over a black sequined polo neck and matching fringe hood 28 Black viscose fringe bustier worn over a mega-flared tulle jumpsuit with a scarlet flocked nude-form motif 29 Cream scuba dress with gold bauble-embroidered cuffs and collar 30 Cream scuba cut-out midi dress 31 Cream scuba dress with a gold bauble-embroidered gold lamé breastplate 32 Black sequinned train skirt with leopard and gold jacquard fan trim worn over a cream scuba polo neck 33 Leopard jacquard emerald and gold expression worn over a pale pink satin column skirt 34 Leopard jacquard draped balloon dress with clear crystal collar

All images courtesy of Halpern

PR Agency Karla Otto