Maryam Nassir Zadeh Hosts a Breezy Moment in the Park for Spring 2020

On Monday, Maryam Nassir Zadeh unveiled her latest ready-to-wear collection. Fitting to the designer's signature downtown aesthetic, the show happened in a recessed tennis court at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in the Lower East Side, and city dwellers going about their sunny afternoon could look on at the spectacle from just beyond the barriers. It was a decidedly chill environment fitting with the "in and of the city" aesthetic that Zadeh, who has lived in the Lower East Side for over a decade as it has achieved continued popularity among artsy young New Yorkers, has so powerfully cultivated.

Styled by Haley Wollens, the looks for Spring 2020 combined elements of beachwear and tailoring in a show that paid homage to both Zadeh's longtime home of New York and her Iranian-American upbringing. Midriff-baring looks and heavy use of loose, lightweight fabrics contrasted starkly with knee-length pencil skirts and blazers, but it all seemed to effortlessly come together. One model walked down the court's “runway” in a plain white bikini paired with black leather boots and a handbag. Perhaps that's exactly what a young city person needs for a summer lifestyle of heading to the beach by day and going out at night.

Many of the designs featured a neutral color scheme, with a handful of bold, multi-colored looks. The lime green typical of Zadeh’s designs made an appearance as usual, as well as hot pink, which appears to be a trend this season after looks in the hue have shown up on several runways throughout New York Fashion Week.

Zadeh's aim with the collection was to evoke feelings of community and transformation. Modern trends like crop tops, small bags, and a cheeky nipple or two got a throwback twist, as the bright colors call back to the pre-revolutionary styles of Iranian women from the 1970s and the structured neutrals are a classic New York staple. The live music, by Lizzi Bougatsos and Brian Degraw, seemed to merge electronic synth and Middle Eastern influences to create an effect that transcends time and place in its display of Zadeh's multicultural heritage.