Picture this: A line that stretched down the block outside of the bricked St. Patrick’s Youth Center in New York City during a crisp, breezy February Friday afternoon for Wiederhoeft FW23.

While being directed where to stand for admission, I spotted street photographers begin to take photos of influencers and stylishly-extrovert fashion subscribers while cars squeeze and maneuver around said photoshoots that have now filled the streets in a gaggle.

And as the street-turned-editorial spread began to die down and attendees gained admission, I began to make my ascent into the building.

Upon entry, the main thing that stuck out was that the entire venue was pitch black. In fact, the only thing that made it clear exactly what the venue was—a recreation area turned fabulous, ominous blackout, were little white lights sitting on the floor—in a circular shape—surrounding a tall metal light post.

@sitchmagazine

@wiederhoeft_ offers dark whimsy for FW23. The collection featured flouncy skirts, sleek corsetry, and decadent outerwear that caught our eye. 10/10! 🌟 #newyorkfashionweek #newyork #atlanta #wiederhoeft #nyfw #fyp #foryoupage #foryourpage #fashion #style #follow

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Soon, guests began to pour in by the dozens, and photographers continued to ask show attendees for photo ops as the crew shuffled everyone into their assigned seats. It’s by this time that Jaida Essence Hall saunters into the room in a bright green dress that gave every bit of a Tinkerbell dream that came true. And shortly after, Julia Fox joined Hall, who showed up in Wiederhoeft’s poodle dress from Resort 22, which framed her in a floor-length strapless gown swarmed in pink sequins and sparkles with a white poodle splashed across the front—she teamed it with black pleaser heels for a kickass finish.

Now that the crowd has settled and the only thing visible to the audience are the lights placed around to thinly light the center’s floors, a sweeping calm sweeps over the room. Then, all of a sudden, the thump of a screeching yet steady and heavy club beat rang throughout the venue that set the tone for Eurydice, the name of Wiederhoeft’s FW23 show.

The brand states that the idea behind this season’s collection is a reinvented idea of the classic Greek mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice, which tells the tale of how Orpheus descends into hell to save his wife but kills her by looking at her. In Wiederhoeft’s version, Eurydice chooses hell. Altogether, the collection explores a post-Orpheus, post-gender Underworld where interpretations of ancient Greek and Catholic mythologies meet at the intersection of Virgil’s Aeneid, essentially expressing the idea as a Venn diagram of fanaticism, fate, and fear. It poses insatiable battles: Afterparty vs. afterlife, prey vs. predator, friend vs. foe, fate vs. free will. Fate as a consequence of free will. Comprehensively, the sentiment of the show is “a feeling of dark whimsy.”

Models sashayed around the room in various styles, indicative of the theme and their looks. For example, the first look showcased a white sheer A-line dress and a flouncy white skirt that floated across the floor as the model kicked it off. Next, a trio wore shift dresses—all in contrasting fabrics—while the trio executed their synchronized walking routine. Then, some other bold standouts came out, including a white plunging corset teamed with a white mini skirt and translucent tights, all adorned with teardrop crystals that radiated in the light, along with a darling floor-length baby pink gown accented by furry pink trim and matching pom on a string, draping from the model’s neck, and a deep-v neckline.

Also, elaborate outerwear made an appearance in a yellow evening coat reminiscent of the 1960s—etched with black chain-link-style print and dashed with black feathers on the hem and on the cuffs, which made me feel as though the essence of grandeur and maximalism might find a new landscape within the current fashion landscape.

But overall, for Wiederhoeft FW23, lace, tulle, and sequins were the main ingredients that brought the pieces to life. Additionally, corsetry was a focal point as eight of the models donned some form of the constricting undergarments.

After making my way through the hustle and bustle of the fashion week crowd of people scurrying off to make it to their next show and appointment, I laughed to myself about how uneasy I felt entering the dark St. Patrick’s Youth Center beforehand, but making it to the other side, Wiederhoeft FW23 just proves that feeling any emotion in the dark is a good thing. Especially dark whimsy.