Kate Hundley Resort 2024, 'Goddesses and Witches' (Courtesy Kate Hundley)
Designer Kate Hundley brings goddesses and witches to the Wythe Hotel
If you’ve never thought about wearing a draped red cape on your next vacation, this collection might make you reconsider
After the rain subsided last Wednesday afternoon, actors, influencers, gallerists, and journalists took their spots at Williamsburg’s iconic Wythe Hotel. Here, they showed up and showed out for emerging designer Kate Hundley’s 2024 Resort runway show “Goddesses and Witches.”
The show was perfectly suited for the hotel’s elegantly dark and industrial event space. The anticipation was high; once the show started, the phones came out.
Kate Hundley Resort 2024, ‘Goddesses and Witches’ (Courtesy Kate Hundley)
Each model represented a different reflection (and defiance) of the male gaze. It’s hardly news that throughout history, men have labeled women as either goddesses or witches (or virgins and whores). The theme here is all about women reclaiming their self-determination. Clothing that was used to either control, demean or hypersexualize women take back their power in “Goddesses and Witches”: corsets, drapery, metal hardware, and sequins … even a top made completely out of leather belts.
“I’m starting to find things that feel really good to me and feel like mine,” Hundley says. “I want to continue to build on lacing details and corset details. I love surrealism and surrealist art, and there are some amazing surrealist female artists who are completely forgotten.”
Kate Hundley Resort 2024, ‘Goddesses and Witches’ (Courtesy Kate Hundley)
The first model walked out in an intense silk-like off-the-shoulder red dress with adjustable ribboned slits. Each look contrasted the previous one in the best way possible. For example, after the red dress came an all-black genderless look. It consisted of a leather button-down, adjustable zipper flared pants, and an oversized leather bag.
“I want people to feel strong when they wear this,” she says. “I think you can feel strong and powerful and still be a little sexy in whatever way you choose to be.”
While the apparel was the star of the show, the bags were also a showstopper. Hundley experimented with handbags during her time at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). However, she didn’t release her first handbag until last season’s pre-fall collection.
Kate Hundley Resort 2024, ‘Goddesses and Witches’ (Courtesy Kate Hundley)
Despite only making bags for a year or so, Hundley’s six bags presented at the 2024 Resort collection looked like she had been mastering handbags for decades. She offers a variety of sizes including mini totes and oversized handbags to fit laptops and more.
The show ended with a jaw-dropping red cape look that draped along the floor — a testament to Hundley reclaiming her power as a woman and blazing trails within her own craft.
You can pre-order “Goddesses and Witches” this week for late fall delivery at katehundley.com in addition to previous collections and pieces.
