Welcome to the age of ‘Corpcore’.
As dubbed by Marco Falcioni, SVP of Creative Direction at HUGO BOSS, as the theme of the collection, BOSS’ Fall/Winter 2023 show looked to recontextualise the brand’s heritage, offering a fresh spin on the classics for the modern BOSS customer. Tailoring has always been at the heart of the BOSS design DNA, but with its latest iteration on capsule wardrobe pieces, a modern lens is applied to the past. In this, Falcioni breaks the codes of traditional office attire that has become a go-to around the world and introduces a whole new realm of wardrobe favourites.
“The BOSS Fall/Winter 2023 collection is an evolution of our brand’s tailoring heritage,” wrote Falcioni. “I loved the creative challenge of taking the traditional office attire of the executive— a look not typically associated with breaking boundaries—and shaking it up to make it new, exciting, and representative of the multi-faceted modern BOSS. It’s a celebration of suiting as a tool for empowerment, confidence, and individuality— values that drive our core message, ‘Be Your Own BOSS’.”
The venue for the presentation saw the old and new world collide, with a stadium turned into the BOSS Techtopia: an ephemeral workplace and oasis of tranquillity and ergonomic design. Game-changing technologies of the future sit in harmony with lush greenery, and even ‘Sophia’, a robot citizen created by Hanson Robotics, greets and interacts with guests. Following a surreal welcome from Sophia, guests entered via tunnels with life-sized holograms offering multilingual greetings. From there, they were presented with six themed ‘work rooms’.
As for the clothes, super-stretch suiting has been made from the brand’s bestselling performance fabric, printed with traditional patterns like pinstripe for an old-world elegance. Deconstructed designs honour BOSS’s signature craftsmanship in a refreshing way, with sharp outerwear softened by a vintage aesthetic. Belting adds definition to boxy cuts; deep slits and low cuts bring a sensual factor, and versatile styling offers endless ways to reimagine silhouettes. Hues are richer, with shades of grey mixed with deep burgundy for an edgy sophistication for the autumn season.
Accessories were playful but functional, referencing office objects like paper clips, pens and folders, all reworked in unexpected forms. An unexpected pivot for the brand and a gamble that will pay off in spades as we all flock to buy now.
This article originally appeared on Grazia International