5:31 Jerome explores the evolution of mankind in spring 2017

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Sep 12, 2016

Jerome LaMaar, the Bronx-born designer behind 5:31 Jerome, was inspired by the future and the evolution of the human race for spring 2017. The collection is heavy on embellishments like Swarovski crystals, and has loose references to traditional Japanese clothing, the military, and streetwear and high fashion glamour.

 
“The look refers to a conceptualized approach to futurism and the high tides that are forecasted to arrive at our shores,” said Lamaar. “The handpainted straw hats symbolize a UFO. The shapes of the models’ fingernails referenced surfboards, and the eyewear was hand crafted in Japan in collaboration with Archibald Optics. On the models’ feet were Birkenstocks, encrusted by hand with seashells and pearls.”
 
Standout pieces in the collection include the distressed denim jacket and white zip dress adorned with Swarovski crystals, the men’s denim field parka and white kimono, the M-65 jacket-turned-dress finished off with a white braided belt, and the goose feather and rooster feather coats. Lamaar put his mastery of proportion as the central focus, but his choice of fabrics and fabric combinations could not go overlooked. The cut-and-sew pattern play and distressing on several pieces pull together the collection.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Jerome LaMaar has been designing, trend forecasting and styling since he was a teenager. At 15, he was an assistant to Kimora Lee Simmons at Baby Phat, and at 20, he was commissioned by June Ambrose to design all of the costumes for Mariah Carey’s 2006 Adventures of Mimi World Tour. 5:31 Jerome also caught the attention of Beyoncé who recently wore several pieces from the brand.