Molly Ringwald, Jenna Lyons, and More Hit the Runway for Lingua Franca’s First-Ever Fashion Show

“Art is the triumph over chaos” was the line written on the show notes at Lingua Franca’s first-ever runway presentation. Rachelle Hruska took over The Bowery last night—the downtown landmark which also happens to be co-owned by her husband Sean MacPherson—to stage a show, which was not only beautifully curated but also a bit unconventional and fun. Unlike a traditional runway, her cast of models included an ensemble of iconic New Yorkers including Pat Cleveland, Molly Ringwald, Jenna Lyons, and Jordan Roth, among others. “Everyone walking in the show is a friend of mine,” Hruska said, sporting a sweater embroidered with the show’s motto. “I wanted my first runway to highlight the creative downtown New Yorkers who inspire me. I wanted it to feel eclectic but cohesive, a real reflection of the spirit of this city. But most importantly I wanted it to be fun.” Her models not only sported the brand’s signature knits but also newer offerings like sharp double-breasted jackets, bohemian summer dresses, and jeans. Hruska also added an extra-touch of downtown by incorporating pieces from the tapestries and the bed sheets at the hotel into her prints.

Hruska is no stranger to the limelight; she first came on the scene in the 2000s after launching the popular lifestyle and society blog Guest of a Guest. She started Lingua Franca in 2016 and soon thereafter became a point of conversation in the pop culture landscape when Connie Britton wore one of the brand’s sweaters embroidered with the line “Poverty is Sexist” at the Golden Globes.

“I had no idea how much fun [doing a show] would be—I would have done it sooner. The entire process was energizing, and honestly, the best distraction from everything happening in the world right now,” Hruska said. The audience seemed to agree; there wasn’t an empty seat in the room, and even The Bowery’s lobby was jam-packed with standing guests trying to catch a glimpse of the collection. It seems this is the beginning of the nine-year-old brand’s next chapter, and we can expect to see additional runway shows from Lingua Franca in the future, as well as plenty of New Yorkers wearing more than just her cashmere knits.