Though born and raised in London and now a resident of New York, Carly Cushnie has nevertheless always held tightly to her Jamaican roots. After separating from her business partner of 10 years Michelle Ochs, Cushnie launched her first solo collection with which fashion editors were immediately besotted. Ever the busy designer, Cushnie followed this triumph with launching Cushnie bridal, a handbag line, and becoming pregnant. Carly Cushnie is showing that she deserves to have it all! Her recent efforts on February 8 at the Cushnie Fall 2019 runway show at NYFW displayed more growth and maturity.

From the opening velvet pantsuit, we gathered maternity has left an impression on Cushnie. Put a Jamaican on the main stage and you will receive a job well done, such as the impeccably seamed hemlines of dresses and wide-legged pants that twisted back and forth with every step. Lithe satin dresses that slithered across the model’s curves proved the Cushnie aesthetic, though interpreted differently, was still intact.

Growth and maturity can be sexy too, illustrated by the signature Cushnie high-slit dresses. Chiffon pants and jumpsuits with peek-a-boo silk lines relaxed the power suit to a demure almost athleisure appeal.

Minis were accentuated with floating tassels — an indication of the newer designs for the Cushnie handbag line. Jewel-toned hues in plum, ruby, navy blue and lavender interlocked with truly Caribbean flora to create a few velvet-and-chiffon or chiffon-and-silk unions.

What better time than Fall/Winter to play with textures? There were navy trench coats and jacket collars lined with fur or a dangling tinsel scarf. Then black leather suits, gold lamé separates, and a couple shag jackets in the mix. The verdict is still out on a lone silk crepe lavender dress with cutouts that seemed out of place though with a certain je ne sais quoi about it.