Sean Combs' highly anticipated women's collection has finally arrived, with a name reflecting the more personal side of the designer: Sean by Sean Combs.
In an exclusive interview at his West Side apartment here, Combs presented the introductory Sean by Sean Combs holiday collection — affectionately coined "the appetizer" by the design team because it offers just a taste of what's to come.
"I want to be known for a consistent collection every time I come out," said Combs, seated on a cream suede couch in his living room overlooking Central Park. Most rooms — from the kitchen to the bedroom — boasted floor-to-ceiling windows, but Combs immediately declared the apartment "preconstruction." To set the mood, Combs, dressed in Sean John jeans and a blazer, played music from Prince's "Purple Rain."
Combs said his intention was to offer a full collection to the consumer — one she could wear head-to-toe if she pleased.
"I want women to come into my world," he said. "I want to show the diversity of this young, fun, sexy, sophisticated woman. This is the woman we aspire to have. This is the woman the Sean John man wants."
While Combs' line contains some basics, every piece — from the low-cut cashmere hoodie to the cropped leather jacket — has a distinctly sexy flair. "Our foundation is sexy, but it's not so sexy that you don't feel comfortable wearing it," Combs said. "We want to bring a bit of edge, but we're not afraid to be sophisticated. Sean is for the girl who, when she leaves the house in the morning for work, may have a date after and the night might continue on so that she's having drinks at a lounge. We have pieces that look beautiful in the morning, but as the sun goes down, the clothes start to get sexier."
The 150-piece holiday collection consists of three groups: Natural Born Killers, a sexy, stealthy group driven by colors such as black and cobalt; Caramel Kiss, a dreamy, flirty segment rich in cream, chocolate brown and camel shades, and Monaco, the resort collection taking its inspiration from the ocean and focusing on colors such as Mediterranean blue, tangerine, khaki and white.
The holiday line was primarily designed by Combs and Max Wilson, who resigned in April. He was succeeded by Jenny La Fata, former creative director at La Rok, who was named vice president of design for Sean John's women's apparel. La Fata had limited input with the holiday collection, but will design the spring line with Combs.
...i mean it's no sweetface )
