Prabal Gurung: New York Fashion Week, Met Gala & Everything About His Fashion Impact
Prabal Gurung is a Nepalese-American fashion designer known for his innovative and unique designs that blend traditional Nepalese and Indian styles with modern Western aesthetics. Gurung has made a significant impact on the fashion world and has been praised for his commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the industry.
Prabal Gurung’s Designs
Prabal Gurung's designs often feature vivid colors, intricate prints, and feminine silhouettes that showcase the beauty and elegance of women. Gurung's collections often feature a mix of flowing dresses, tailored suits, and separates, with each piece designed to be versatile and easily mixed and matched. He has also been known to experiment with unconventional materials and techniques, such as laser-cutting and 3D printing, to create unique and visually stunning pieces.
One of Gurung's signature design elements is his use of prints. He often incorporates intricate patterns and prints inspired by his Nepalese heritage into his collections. Gurung has also collaborated with artists and designers to create unique prints that reflect his unique aesthetic. In addition to his signature prints, Gurung's designs often feature intricate details such as embroidery, beading, and draping. He is known for his attention to detail and his ability to create stunning, intricate pieces that are both visually stunning and highly wearable.
Prabal Gurung’s Fashion Designing Journey So Far
Prabal Gurung's fashion journey has been quite remarkable. He was born in Singapore and raised in Nepal, where he developed an early passion for fashion. He moved to New York in 1999 to study at Parsons School of Design, and after graduating, he began his career in the fashion industry. Gurung worked for several renowned fashion houses, including Cynthia Rowley and Bill Blass, before launching his eponymous label in 2009. His first collection was well-received by critics and buyers, and he quickly gained a reputation for his bold use of color, intricate prints, and feminine silhouettes.
Over the years, Gurung has become known for his innovative designs, blending traditional Nepalese and Indian styles with modern Western aesthetics. He has dressed some of the most influential celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Yeoh, and Michelle Obama. In addition to his fashion designs, Gurung has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. He has used his platform to raise awareness and promote change and has been recognized for his commitment to promoting inclusivity and sustainability in the industry.
In 2017, Gurung was honored with the Creativity Award by The Asia Society for his contributions to fashion. He has also been recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for his innovative designs and commitment to diversity.
Michelle Obama in Prabal Gurung
Credits: White House Press
Michelle Obama wore a Prabal Gurung dress during her book tour for her "Becoming" memoir in 2018. The dress was a stunning teal number fitted bodice and a full, pleated skirt. The dress perfectly showcased Gurung's talent for creating elegant and sophisticated designs.
Oprah Winfrey In Prabal Gurung
Oprah Winfrey has also been spotted wearing several Prabal Gurung designs over the years. In 2013, she wore a white dress from his Spring/Summer collection during an appearance on her show, "Super Soul Sunday." The dress was a flowing, ethereal piece that perfectly captured Gurung's signature aesthetic. Winfrey has also been spotted wearing other pieces from Gurung's collections on various occasions.
Jennifer Lawrence In Prabal Gurung
Jennifer Lawrence has been spotted wearing Prabal Gurung designs on several occasions. One notable instance was at the London premiere of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in 2013, where Lawrence wore a stunning black gown from Gurung's Fall/Winter 2013 collection. The dress was a strapless, floor-length gown with a fitted bodice and a full, flowing skirt. The skirt featured a dramatic slit that revealed a layer of black tulle underneath, adding an extra element of drama to the design. The dress perfectly showcased Gurung's ability to create elegant, timeless, feminine, and powerful pieces.
Lawrence has also been spotted wearing other Prabal Gurung designs on the red carpet, including a red dress with a plunging neckline at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards and a white gown with a thigh-high slit at the 2016 Academy Awards. Overall, Lawrence's love for Prabal Gurung's designs is a testament to the designer's ability to create stunning, memorable pieces that perfectly capture the essence of the modern, confident woman.
Gurung and New York Fashion Week
Prabal Gurung is a regular fixture at New York Fashion Week, one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar. He typically presents his collections during the event, showcasing his latest designs and pushing the boundaries of fashion with his innovative and bold aesthetic. Gurung's New York Fashion Week shows are known for their dramatic, show-stopping designs, often featuring intricate prints, bold colors, and feminine silhouettes. He is known for his attention to detail and ability to create stunning, intricately crafted pieces that perfectly capture the spirit of the modern woman.
One notable Prabal Gurung New York Fashion Week show was his Fall/Winter 2019 collection, which featured a mix of flowing dresses, tailored suits, and separates in a range of bold colors and prints. The collection was inspired by Gurung's Nepalese heritage, with many pieces featuring intricate embroidery and beading showcasing the designer's attention to detail.
Another standout Prabal Gurung New York Fashion Week show was his Spring/Summer 2020 collection, which featured a mix of sporty separates, flowing dresses, and tailored suits in a range of vivid colors and prints. The exhibition was inspired by the idea of travel and exploration, with many of the pieces featuring maps and other travel-inspired prints.
Overall, Prabal Gurung's New York Fashion Week shows are always highly anticipated by fashion insiders and fans alike, thanks to his ability to create bold, innovative designs that push the boundaries of fashion and perfectly capture the spirit of the modern, confident woman.
At New York Fashion Week, 2023, Gurung designed the fall collection; fur-wired jackets, sheer dresses, and metallic gold prints and sindoor in demand by the models were the highlights of this show and bold enough to capture the whole of social media.
Met Gala With Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung has been a popular choice for celebrities attending the Met Gala, one of the world's most prestigious fashion events. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City, and it is known for its star-studded guest list and fashion-forward themes.
Over the years, many celebrities have chosen to wear Prabal Gurung designs to the Met Gala, including some of the most influential women in the world. For example, in 2018, actress Diane Kruger wore a stunning Prabal Gurung silver gown to the Met Gala, perfectly capturing the event's theme of "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
● Deepika Padukone - Another memorable Prabal Gurung Met Gala moment was in 2019 when actress Deepika Padukone wore a dramatic pink gown from Gurung's Spring/Summer 2019 collection. The dress featured a dramatic train and a structured bodice, perfectly capturing the spirit of the event's "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme.
● Diane Kruger - In 2013, Gurung dressed the German actress in a black and white gown with a draped bodice and full skirt. The dress was simple yet elegant, showcasing Gurung's talent for creating classic, timeless pieces.
● Joan Smalls - In 2012, Gurung dressed the Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls in a vibrant purple gown with a high slit and a plunging neckline. The dress was inspired by Gurung's Nepalese heritage and showcased his bold use of color.
● Hailee Steinfeld - In 2018, Gurung dressed the American actress and singer in a white gown with a dramatic train and a high neckline. The dress featured intricate beading and embroidery and was inspired by the event theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
Alia Bhatt In Prabal Gurung at Met Gala, 2023
On the first Monday of May, Alia Bhatt had a remarkable debut at the grand fashion event. She graced the red carpet of Met Gala 2023 as the muse of designer Prabal Gurung and both paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld, the inspiration behind the dress code "In Honour of Karl." Prabal Gurung is now disclosing the intricate details that contributed to making this event possible. He revealed that Alia's dress was meticulously hand-embroidered in India, where he first encountered the actress.
In summary, Prabal Gurung's New York Fashion Week shows are always highly anticipated by fashion insiders and fans alike, thanks to his ability to create bold, innovative designs that push the boundaries of fashion and perfectly capture the spirit of the modern, confident woman.