Vogue100's Afternoon in the Studio with Jonathan Cohen and Micaela Erlanger

Micaela Erlanger and Jonathan Cohen. Photographed by Ryan Sides.

Ryan Sides

‘Tis the season to start planning for the annual galas, special occasions with family, and holiday parties on the horizon. For a major red carpet look or an evening ballgown, we turned to designer Jonathan Cohen and celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger for a little advice on curating a head-turning look for the modern woman. The Parsons classmates turned fashion dynamic duo sat down with Vogue’s Christian Allaire to share the secrets to their success. And, what better venue to dive into the minds of the masters than at their shared studio space in Manhattan?

The afternoon affair kicked off with a private walkthrough of the spring 2024 collection, where Cohen and his co-founder Sarah Leff highlighted key looks for the season. Nearby, a pair of knee-high leather boots adorned with florets and slide sandals outfitted in the brand’s signature print fabric offered new ways to wear Jonathan Cohen in collaboration with Larroude.

Guests were welcomed with a glass of bubbly paired with a gorgeous spread from Pearl Street Caviar. In addition to the traditional blini lineup, the local caviar venture served a seasonal pairing with sweet potato chips and freshly sliced cucumbers.

For the main event, attendees settled into Erlanger’s expansive and highly coveted closet for the sit-down discussion. Of course, a core conversation point was Lupita Nyong’o’s custom Cohen look for the premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. A longtime client and friend of Erlanger, Nyong’o was eager to not only make a statement but to tell her story on the red carpet.

Cohen went straight to work pumping out sketches as a starting point. “As a man designing for women,” Cohen began. “My focus is always ensuring that I’m creating a look that is respectful, powerful, and evokes confidence.”

As an homage to Cohen and Nyong’o’s shared Mexican heritage, the final product was literally and figuratively layered with meaning. The sweeping red cape in silk faille paid tribute to one of Nyong’o’s first appearances during the start of her career, and underneath, a black leather harness dress was inspired by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. “It was a really collaborative process,” Erlanger smiled. “We all shared the same vision, one that was very authentic to Lupita but in an edgier way.”

With many of the usual red carpets on pause due to the Screen Actors Guild strikes, the two took a moment to reflect on how the process has changed over the years. “The narrative has finally evolved from designers making all the final red carpet decisions,” Cohen explained. “Today, it’s so refreshing to work so closely with my celebrity and private clients. The creativity that sparks from these special and intimate relationships is unmatched.”

Before guests bid the afternoon adieu, everyone made sure to grab a gift bag filled with RéVive skincare. The bio-renewable technology-driven brand was the perfect setup for a busy week ahead, attending Vogue’s 2023 Forces of Fashion conference.