Lingua Franca Throws a Pizza Party to Fête their New York Fashion Week Debut

Sustainably sourced sweaters with thought-provoking phrases have guided Lingua Franca founder and creative director Rachelle Hruska MacPherson to reach new heights. On Tuesday night, she achieved another milestone by debuting the brand’s first ready-to-wear runway show at New York Fashion Week. She carefully combined the company’s commitment to sustainable fashion with its cheeky cursive expressions into a whimsical collection inspired by New York City’s renowned Bowery Hotel. With the help of her famous pals like Molly Ringwald, Jenna Lyons, Jordan Roth, Gina Gershon, and Pat Cleveland to model the new pieces, the runway collection left an indelible mark.

“We’ve been doing ready-to-wear for four years, but no one really knows us past the sweaters, so I had to do something!” an exuberant Hruska MacPherson told Vogue at the brand’s runway show afterparty appropriately held at the Bowery Hotel. “I needed a distraction, to be quite honest, with what was happening in the world. So this runway show was the perfect distraction, and I’ve been having so much fun.”

Hruska MacPherson wore a shirt with the words “Art is the triumph over chaos” stitched on it, which referenced the show’s theme, she said. She hopes guests will see the collection and learn that “even though we are a brand that’s been very outspoken, we also have a playful side to us always,” she explained. “Everything has a story behind it, and hopefully, everything brings a little joy to the world.”

As for the looks inspired by the downtown Manhattan hotel that is decorated in a classic old-world style and filled with antique tapestries, “I lived in the Bowery for three years when I first moved to New York 20 years ago,” she explained. “And my husband [Sean MacPherson] owns and designs the hotel. Gangs of New York was the reference when the Five Points Gang lived in the Bowery, so you’ll see a lot of tassels and velvets, and there’s doilies and a lot of lace and fringe.”

To commemorate the staging of its first runway show, Lingua Franca threw a lively afterparty that turned into a delicious pizza party on the Bowery Hotel’s terrace bar. Partygoers congregated at a pizza station and enjoyed endless fresh margherita and spinach pies. The dimly lit atmosphere provided an intimate setting where Susan Sarandon, wearing a sweater with “love more” on it, was spotted chatting with Ringwald and her 15-year-old son Roman. The two were fresh from the runway and still glowing from proudly modeling the new chic clothes. Meanwhile, actress Carla Gugino, wearing a sweater with “I read banned books” on it, mingled with some acquaintances.

Near the DJ booth, where Samantha Ronson provided crowd-pleasing tunes such as Janet Jackson’s “Escapade,” stood Katie Couric sharing an animated conversation with Jordan Roth, who was among the stars invited to model the new designs. The Tony award-winning producer and fashion innovator perfectly strutted down the catwalk like a supermodel with attitude and grace while dressed in a green, corduroy suit with wide-leg trousers and yellow fringe on the jacket. “I haven’t worn a suit in seven or ten years,” revealed Roth, who often dons bold and daring looks that consistently pushes the boundaries of fashion and gender. “Now, I feel I can re-investigate the suit. It’s like bringing me back around. I’m often in a suit jacket with a skirt and heels and sometimes latex.” As for the fringe, “It’s like an effortlessly cool, fun, fabulous look!” Roth described.

A cheery Lyons, who sauntered down the runway along with her Chihuahua mix, Popeye, on a leash, which caused the crowd to ooh and aah, connected with her Real Housewives of New York City castmate Jessel Taank at the party, and the two shared a boisterous laugh. Taank had on a sweater with “Jenna Fucking Lyons” on it and Lyons immediately howled at the sight of it. As for Popeye stealing the show, “Jenna brought her dog to the fitting,” Hruska MacPherson said, “and we have dog sweaters, so we said, ‘You gotta walk with the dog.’ Our read-to-wear collection really has everything!”