Delpozo is Fashion's Prettiest New Label
Details from the Fall 2015 Show. Photos: Imaxtree.com
Josep Font is somebody who likes to do things properly. Like other artists seeking the sublime, he has come to terms with this reality. “Perfectionists suffer a lot,” says the 47 year-old designer with a slight sigh. But the rest of us, specifically the women who wear his clothes, benefit from his suffering.
Font is the creative force behind Delpozo, a Spanish fashion house that’s been gaining buzz in the last few seasons for its romantic, ornate and expertly-tailored designs. While his New York show, which will take place tomorrow, is now populated with magazine editors and socialites clamoring to get a look at his ethereal pieces, fashion forward celebrities like Julianne Moore, Kiernan Shipka, Kate Mara and Keira Knightley have recently made Delpozo their go-to label for the red carpet. In fact, Oscar nominee Moore was spotted last month at the Palm Springs Film festival in a coral, off-the-shoulder number by Delpozo.
Actresses wearing Delpozo: Kate Mara at the 2013 Met Gala, Keira Knightley at the 2015 Critic’s Choice Awards, Julianne Moore at the 2015 Palm Springs Film Festical. Photos: Getty Images
In 2012, Font was tapped to revive the 40 year-old historic house, which had been run by the original founder, Jesus del Pozo until his death in 2011. “My whole life my father really wanted me to study something that was robust. When I graduated, I said, ‘Here’s my architecture degree and oh, by the way, I’ve been studying design this entire time and I have a full collection.” Font starting to show his namesake ready-to-wear collection in various cities and in 2008, he even launched a couture line in Paris. But a few years into it he felt stymied by the narrow reach of couture. When he took over Delpozo he was excited to stretch himself creatively again.
“From the first look that walked the runway, I had an emotional response to it. The collection, the point of view was so fresh and modern,” say Indre Rockefeller, who left her position at Moda Operandi to join the label as the American brand president last spring. It’s hard not to fall in love with the clothes. Each season Font sends a parade of effervescent, colorful confections that seem to float down the runway. It’s not unusual for Font to play around with whimsical color palettes (pink and orange, chocolate brown and kelly green) dramatic shapes like bows and scalloped edges, and layers and layers of tulle, silk, and hand-applied paillettes. Still the fairy tale is grounded in reality. There are easy to wear separates like culottes, knit tops, smart-looking trousers and A-line skirts.
Seen wearing Delpozo at NY Fashion Week February 2015. Leandra Medine (the Man Repeller) and Delpozo Brand President Indre Rockefeller. Photos: Getty Images, Sandra Semberg.
The clothes are called “prêt-a-couture” for their combination of artisanal quality, handcrafted material, and flawless finishes, but the prices keep the brand squarely in the designer category. The looks are show stopping but they’re also elegant and trendy, without the being too frilly or gauche. (Perfect for the red carpet.) “For me, it’s not about a specific woman. It’s more about the way she carries herself. She’s international, feminine, elegant. She takes a little bit of risk,” Font explains of his client.
Even with the recent red carpet cameos this season, Delpozo shies away from awards show gambits as they are still a young, unknown brand. And Rockefeller and Font seem to prefer it that way. Part of the intrigue lies in Font’s low profile— despite having been designing his ready-to-wear and couture lines for years, he’s really only been discovered with the revival of Delpozo.
Font and Rockefeller speak a similar language and though Font never directly says it, one gets the sense that Rockefeller, with her elegance and pedigree, is the muse of the house. Meanwhile, her focus is taking the brand to the next level, expanding their flagship stores beyond just Miami and Madrid and into new product categories.
When I asked Font how he felt when he sees a woman wearing Delpozo, he reflected for a moment, then said, “If I see that she doesn’t have it on appropriately or styled correctly, I want to rejig it a little bit or buy it back from her. But most of the time, 99.9% of the time, I love it.” Speaking like a true perfectionist.
Josep Font, Delpozo Creative Director. Photo courtesy of Delpozo.
Related:
Public School: Meet Fashion’s Dynamic Duo
Sister Act: An Inside Look at Trademark, Louisa and Pookie Burch’s New Store
Why Couture Matters: Everything You Need to Know About Fashion’s Finest Season
