The runway lit up, not with the glow of city lights, but with the soft hum of a satellite hovering overhead. It was a fitting metaphor for Rhude‘s Fall/Winter 2024 collection, a season titled “Out of Range,” in which designer Rhuigi Villaseñor took his label on a journey of introspection and evolution.
Emerging from a tumultuous 2023, Villaseñor sought clarity in the English countryside, a digital detox that sparked a creative reawakening. The result? A collection that defied expectations and expanded Rhude’s horizons beyond its familiar sporty-casual territory.
Think Ivy League preppy meets American utilitarianism, all filtered through Villaseñor’s signature lens of laid-back cool. Leather varsity jackets and roomy denim gave way to tailored workwear, with crisp lines softened by pajama-like ease. Vintage-inspired eyewear and a smorgasbord of footwear – sneakers, loafers, western boots, and “dehydrated UGGs,” as Villaseñor cheekily called them-completed the picture.
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The key was versatility. Double-pocketed cargos and skater-infused leathers mingled effortlessly with formal utility vests and repurposed vintage fur coats. Silhouettes shifted with fluidity, from slim letterman jackets to fluid tailoring that blurred the lines between sartorial and sleepwear.
While Villaseñor acknowledged that he wasn’t reinventing the wheel, he injected a street-smart, skater-infused energy that felt both current and cohesive. Each piece, from the double-pocketed cargos to the playfully luxe coats, whispered a story of reinvention and reach.
But Villaseñor’s ambition wasn’t just about aesthetics. “Out of Range was also about responsibility.’’ The designer spoke of “elevating and telling our customers,” of building on Rhude’s roots while proving that its reach extended far beyond hoodies and basketball shorts. It was a message reinforced by the nonchalant confidence of the models, their hands casually tucked in their pockets, exuding an effortless cool that spoke volumes about the brand’s core values.
Read more: Wales Bonner Fall/Winter 2024 – Paris Fashion Week Men’s
©Photo: Rhude
