Inspired by iconic New York women over the decades, Dennis Basso staged his fall 2025 presentation in a suitable Upper East Side setting.
Three hundred-plus people took in the five vignettes in the limestone mansion that was once home to Charles L. Colby and now houses the Columbus Foundation. Similar to the carved mantlepieces in Peabody & Stearns-designed townhouse’s elaborate decor, Basso knows how to put on the ritz. “What better place to have it than in a building that was built in 1890? A private family lived here until 1930. This was part of the original Gilded Age. It’s a private club now, which we belong to. I thought, ‘This is an iconic building. What better place to show the collection?’”
Many in the crowd wore sable, fur or ermine coats, and not just the models, who sported such styles as a brown mixed broadtail and sable mosaic fur coat, bordeaux sheared mink chinchilla collar coat and a Russian golden sable and crème duchesse satin cocktail dress. With an emphasis on wardrobe building, Basso served up a black duchesse satin tuxedo gown with crystals, an off-white sheared mink chinchilla collar coat with duchesse satin wide-leg pants and a ruby satin back crepe gown with a draped bow. Having dressed his share of New York women over the years, Basso crafted the fall line with the “woman who wears the clothes — the clothes that don’t wear her” in mind.
The designer said the models were styled as if they were his clients.
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Several of the models, who were seated relaxed in armchairs or standing at ease, relayed that élan. Basso said he tried to accessorize and dress the 31 models as if they were clients. They wore shoes and accessories from his signature collection, handbags from Scott Nelson and Jennifer Miller jewelry. (Julien Farel Salon handled the hair and makeup.)
A model poses at the Dennis Basso presentation.
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Basso loyalists like Jennifer Creel and Rena Sindi turned up, as did stylist Phillip Bloch, model Carol Alt, real estate agent (and former “RHONY” star) Kelly Bensimon and a new generation of influencers. Guests caught a montage of looks that were meant “to relate easily to people’s lifestyles,” Basso said. “It was important to do a collection that was really wearable.”
While Colby bought the lot where the Columbus Foundation now stands for $40,000 or what would be $1.38 million today, Basso showed off a few deals at his NYFW event. Crepe pants, a tweed knit blazer, a satin bow blouse and other looks from the Dennis by Dennis Basso for QVC line were on view too. Bensimon noted how there is a lot to be said for the consistent elegance that the designer offers, whether that be in his signature line or the one with QVC. She said, “Just as there are legacy properties with long narratives like the townhouse we are in today, that’s what Dennis is too.”
