LaQuan Smith Spring 2027: Hard and Soft

by · WWD
LaQuan Smith Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear CollectionBrendon Cook/BFA.com/Courtesy of LaQuan Smith

“The LaQuan Smith woman is changing,” the designer said in his Long Island City studio the day before his spring 2027 runway show.

Indeed, according to Smith, his clientele is searching for more ways to wear his designs during the daytime, not just at night. “People don’t shop LaQuan like they used to,” Smith admitted. “LaQuan was known back in the day as the go-to for that quintessential nightlife minidress or that video vixen catsuit. Now, my customer is coming to me for all different spectrums of her life, which has allowed me to look at my collection from a much deeper point of view.”

Smith said this season all started after seeing a resurgence in his clientele after his fall 2026 show. “Last season’s sales increased between 70 percent and 72 percent. That’s a huge, significant jump,” Smith maintained, adding that buyers are saying that his fits have improved and price points are “in a good place.”

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“My hope this season is that I continue to bring in more international retailers,” he added. “I’m also really happy with the specialty boutiques I work with because to me that’s where these sort of things live.”

Smith is eager to maintain this traction by offering more color, like yellow and orange, which the designer declared during the walk-through “feels fresh for me.” He’s also playing more with denim and poplin materials to create a range of sexy but still wearable daytime looks for the LaQuan Smith girl — like a ruffled evening blouse paired with denim capris and a trenchcoat or a range of shirtdresses made with asymmetric hems that offer more-than-just-a-peek of leg.

A mixing of prints and textures was also used throughout, like embossed python and feathered bird embroidery that mingle with other tech-y fabrics, silk faille and lace details. “I love the idea of mixing hard and soft materials,” he noted.

The python really stood out in a pair of fringed biker jackets in the final few looks, as well as in a pair of flared pants and custom boots done by Femme LA.

Smith made sure to point out a few items made of long pony hair Cavallino printed to resemble deer skin, with the star of the range being a minidress featuring a sexy lace-up back. “It’s really seductive, vampy and looks insane on the body,” the designer added. “It’s quintessential to my New York, L.A. or Miami girl. She’s running around town having a great night out. This is a perfect birthday dress.”

Who’s ready to party?