Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez have come a long way since presenting their senior thesis together at Parsons. Since their 2004 runway debut, Proenza Schouler has established itself as the downtown cool girl's go-to brand, and its designers have made their mark by creating their iconic bustier, joining Target's list of collaborators, and causing an It-bag sensation with the irresistible PS1.
Now with three CFDA awards under their belt and an undeniable stronghold on chic tailoring and fashion-forward fabrics, the boys of Proenza Schouler have joined the ranks of the designing elite. Until we see what's ahead for Spring 2015, we're looking back at highlights from Proenza Schouler's lifespan.
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez took a definite departure from their past two collections, which eased up on graphic elements, and went whole hog with prints that looked like abstracted versions of everything from giraffe skin to zebra stripes to wood grain and beyond.
There wasn't a single look in the collection that didn't involve prints, but a closer look reveals that many of them were actually more complicated, but the design duo grounded them in the shapes that have become their signatures, like this structured top connected to an orange-and-black skirt.
If the clothes weren't cool enough, the shoes definitely made a statement. Every single model wore flats, making the pieces even easier to move around in.
And where buttons or fur didn't do the talking, the designers let strips of shiny metallic fabric help their clothes capture attention.
But even though the lines were mostly clean, there was some surface decoration in this collaboration.
Proenza Schouler's Spring 2014 collection saw a continuation of the minimalist bent the designers took on in the previous season.
Ladylike and finished in soft ivory, Proenza's new suit was on everyone's wish list for Fall '14.
Sex appeal, restraint, and Jack and Lazaro's quintessentially cool eye were all at work in this semisheer black dress from the Fall '14 runway.
The boys of Proenza Schouler took to pairing prints and textures in unique ways — in this shot, we see vibrant florals paired with a cobalt-blue leather circle skirt.
Structured, ladylike silhouettes with unexpected edge defined the shape of Proenza Schouler Spring '12.
For Fall '11, the designers played with large-scale colorblocking and slimfitting silhouettes.
Proenza Schouler debuted in Spring 2004 with preppy silhouettes, soft dresses, and techy fabrics.