Julia Fox, Busta Rhymes praise catsuits and cut-outs at LaQuan Smith NYFW

Alev Aktar
·2 min read
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Busta Rhymes and Julia Fox attend Laquan Smith NYFW
Fitted out in fluffy coats, rap legend Busta Rhymes (left) and it-girl Julia Fox (right) had nothing but praise for Laquan Smith's NYFW show
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“F—king phenomenal.”

That’s how rap legend Busta Rhymes described LaQuan Smith’s sizzling fall 2024 runway show.

The glamorous evening started with Louis XIII Cognac and Rémy Cointreau cocktails and caviar for hundreds, served under the 65-foot-high frescoed ceilings in Cipriani 25’s landmarked space on Broadway. It finished with a performance by R&B hero Babyface that had boldfaced guests Misty Copeland, Brooks Nader, Joey Bada$$, Serayah McNeill, Jasmine Sanders and Julia Fox grooving to the beat.

But the clothes were the main event. Taking inspiration from boss ladies, the designer unleashed pinstriped miniskirt suits worn over bare breasts, leather skirts slashed to the thigh and day-to-night sheer blouses with evening trousers. This season, his signature catsuit – adored by Beyoncé, Rihanna and Kylie Jenner – came in black and featured cutouts up the legs and torso.

Guest Babyface (right) also performed for the crowd toward the end of the glamorous evening. Pictured here with girlfriend Rika Tischendorf (left). WWD via Getty Images
Guest Babyface (right) also performed for the crowd toward the end of the glamorous evening. Pictured here with girlfriend Rika Tischendorf (left). WWD via Getty Images

Julia Fox swagged a version of it under a huge white faux fur coat. Posing for photographers, she told Alexa her vibe was “sexy, confident super villain.”

Dressed like a king in a red coat with a white fur collar, a slimmed-down Busta Rhymes sat front row with his daughter, CIE.

The artist is gearing up for his “Blockbusta” tour, which kicks off in March. “I’ve been having a lot of fun preparing for this because it’s the first time that people are going to get to see me give a real full Busta Rhymes show for 90 minutes to two hours. I’ve never performed that long every night for anyone in my entire career,” he said. “The only challenging part is trying to squeeze all of the most amazing moments from this 34-year run in that little bit of time.”

LaQuan Smith is known for daring flashes of skin and slinky garments that hug the wearer’s curves. Don Ashby / FirstVIEW
LaQuan Smith is known for daring flashes of skin and slinky garments that hug the wearer’s curves. Don Ashby / FirstVIEW
Known lovers of Smith’s designs include goddesses of the charts like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Don Ashby / FirstVIEW
Known lovers of Smith’s designs include goddesses of the charts like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Don Ashby / FirstVIEW

“It’s going to be fun to watch the people that are just now becoming part of my journey all the way to the ones that have been there since the inception of Busta Rhymes. And to just see that bridge between the generations, having fun singing my s–t word for word, looking excited, feeling happy.”

LaQuan’s guests looked that way, too.