For Louis-Gabriel Nouchi, his first experience of Ridley Scott’s “Alien” film was an aural one, as a child barred from seeing the space thriller and hearing only muted sounds and screams filtering in the dark.
That swirling cocktail of attraction and fear was one that carried over into the universe he has built over the seasons at LGN and was explored afresh in his fall collection.
Sitting in the half-light of a rundown, underground parking garage, guests at his show on Friday night caught glimpses of the designer’s fitted tailoring, elongated to statuesque proportions; tuxedo jackets with pleating that centered towards the navel as a discrete nod to the film’s main plot device; and filmy cupro used on tops and floor-trailing dresses reminiscent of membranes.
Fortunately for those in the room, the only facehuggers that appeared from behind the pillars were made of braided hair by Charlie Le Mindu and firmly affixed on models’ faces.
New to Nouchi were coats with cocooning proprortions and elements like half-zip anoraks with matching cargo pants that riffed on the idea of a boiler suit. Crisp nylons, putty-toned wools, padded cottons and plush fleeces evoked the clean space craft while black rinsed denim, jacquards with oil-like motifs and glossy latex evoked the overall visual universe, which includes the works of Swiss artist H.R. Giger.
Also in the mix was a tank top and brief combination nodding to an outfit memorably worn by Sigourney Weaver in the film. The words OnlyFans scrawled across the top signaled a collaboration with the platform, which includes products but also the opening of an account for the brand.
While best known for its risqué content, Nouchi pointed out that the platform had emerged as “a way of managing your life” and for creators of all fields – like, say, a chef – to broadcast their content.
The LGN account will explore the broader behind-the-scenes of the label, which includes discussions around the body, sensuality and inclusivity, topics which he feels can only be discussed maturely in a private, safe space.
“When you pay for a magazine, you pay for a certain type of content and for me, it’s exactly the same,” he added. “Just because [material] is private doesn’t mean it is pornographic.”
