Frere Spring 2021

Strong and sophisticated. Pointed and effortless. Formal and casual. The presentation of the Frère spring 2021 collection was full of duality. Not only did Haitian-American designer Davidson Petit-Frère show both womenswear and menswear in a number of glamorous still images, but he accompanied them with a ten-minute trailer of an upcoming movie which he also wrote.

The collection is simply luxurious. Known for creating incredible suits, Frère is teaching a master class with his latest collection. Applying the skills from his previous made-to-measure business, Frère has created a line of suits and outerwear that rivals the best Parisian ateliers. There are sculpted, monochromatic suits in natural hues of chocolate, mint, rose, cranberry, and pumpkin.

Eye-catching prints of marbled blue and gray, brush strokes of gray and sand, and paint splashes of white on black make you do a double-take. For a more relaxed aesthetic, there are logo-branded and tribal-print bombers. Whether your style is uptown or downtown, there is indeed something here for you.

As this New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is mostly without live runway shows, Petit-Frère took a more cinematic route to show his collection—he incorporated his fashion into his to-be-released film “Destined.” The trailer evokes an opulent playboy lifestyle reminiscent of the character Bruce Wayne. It begins with aerial shots of New York City followed by a quick cutaway where we see lead actor Michael K. Williams (“The Wire,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and “Lovecraft Country”) rise from the bed of a luxe hotel suite. He is then chauffeured via Rolls Royce to the five-star Baccarat Hotel, where he is joined by co-star Ron J. Rock (“Den of Thieves,” and “Games People Play”).

Amidst all of the scenes, we see the characters fully dressed, and their closets fully stocked, in Frère creations. The outfits are accented by Audemars Piguet timepieces, and the scenery is never void of by Armand de Brignac champagne. To further bring forth the Gotham City vibe, the soundtrack is underscored by Jay-Z, Snoh Aalegra, and The Weekend. If the Dark Knight had an even darker version, this may be it.

Davidson Petit-Frère has mastered the art of leaving us wanting more. Whether we are looking to set an appointment for his bespoke suit service, or awaiting the release of his movie, he certainly has our attention.

—Carl Ayers