Despite being one of the most-anticipated shows on the New York Fashion Week calendar, Who Decides War co-founder Téla D'Amore is relaxed. “It was a real moment of calm before this,” she says. “So it's been amazing to come in here and see the machine in action,” gesturing at the sea of models, stylists, and fashion people making final touches of the SS25 collection before showtime.
The clock was ticking, but things were moving in perfect order. Perhaps her apparent ease is a byproduct of an incredible team and support system. Since its 2018 launch, D'Amore and her partner Ev Bravado have cultivated a cherished community of everyone from editors to A-listers who expect to come to each show for well, a show .
“I really wanted to do less this time around—I feel like we're always doing so much with regard to the experience,” D'Amore continues. “This time, I wanted to narrow everything down to just like the universal fundamentals: amazing music, amazing clothing, and amazing community.” Paring down the experience allows attendees to walk into the Who Decides War world; which, this season transported us to the Victorian era.
Drawing inspiration from the 1800s fashion and its impact on the Western world cultivated in a collection full of corsets, linen, lace, and earth tones. Taking cues from the collection's fabrics and hues, makeup artist Akiko Owada dreamt up a look that gave the brand's signature edge a Victorian twist. White eyeshadow was dusted along the li.