PALOMO SPAIN TAKES NYFW

WE WERE INVITED TO A PARTY IN HEAVEN 

Words: Monique Johnson, Image: Malorie Shmyr

Palomo’s shows are divine spectacles, each one an aural and visual pilgrimage. Watching them feels like tuning into the most rapturous song, the ones where church hymns collide with a pulsing, hot ass beat. It’s how I imagine heaven must sound: celestial, euphoric, and full of life. His Spring/Summer 2025 collection brought that vision to life in a way that felt like I had left the earth altogether, stepping into a realm of pure, transcendent beauty.

Before this show—my “IRL” Palomo experience—watching his collections on YouTube felt like watching my favorite fashion film. I would crack open a bottle of champagne, settle in, and get lost in the opulence and imagination of his world. But nothing could compare to the magic of seeing it live, where every look, every movement, translated to a beat in a grand symphony of style. 

His latest collection, ‘All Of Heaven’s Parties,’ revealed at New York Fashion Week 2024, felt like the song Pescador de Hombres, embodying a divine elegance that shaped his entire vision. From the moment leather jackets, gleaming with silver studs, marched down the runway, to the fragile organza blouses billowing softly beneath them, the collection wove a story of masculinity and soft sensuality. The distressed denim shorts, paired with towering white boots, were the kind of detail that made you feel grateful for the privilege of witnessing such beauty.

And then, as the show closed with a breathtaking all-white ensemble, it felt as though I had finally stepped through the gates of heaven.

Palomo’s vision continues to merge the sacred and the profane. A leopard-print bag** draped effortlessly over the shoulder while a **burnt-orange silk top** flowed like a whispered melody, giving the ensemble an air of seduction. The juxtaposition of high-waisted leather shorts and pointed leopard-print heels turned each look into a sensory feast, where textures clashed and harmonized in the most unexpected ways.

Fashion has always been a part of Palomo’s story. As a child, he learned to sew beside his grandmother, inspired by the elegance of John Galliano. When he returned to Spain, he seamlessly merged the opulence of his upbringing with the street style he discovered abroad in London, creating the iconic aesthetic that would define Palomo Spain.

In 2015, Palomo Spain made its debut with “Orlando,” a collection inspired by Virginia Woolf’s tale of an immortal aristocrat who transcends gender. This daring, fluid vision quickly caught the world’s eye.

Palomo’s latest work wrestles with the eternal question: “Why are emotions like lust, desire, and attraction—so fundamental to our humanity—deemed sinful? If these feelings are part of our nature, how can they be wrong in the pursuit of heaven?” His designs challenge that divide, weaving together the sacred and the sensual in a way that makes you wonder: isn’t heaven, after all, a celebration of everything that makes us human?

In our conversation, Alejandro shared how the vibrant energy of New York—the freedom of dancing in Brooklyn, the hypnotizing pulse of the city—helped inspire his latest collection. We talked about how the divine and the gritty streets collide in his work, and how ‘All of Heaven’s Parties’ brings that spirit to life on the runway. Here’s what he had to say.

Monique Johnson: How does the theme 'All of Heaven’s Parties' tie into your signature fusion of dramatic Spanish spirit and urban street style?"**

**Alejandro Palomo:** Well, at the end of it, I’m portraying a big party *laughs* — That’s where everything is at, where everything glamorous is. And we do take our street style up a notch from the parties. With that, we’re creating this wonderful heavenly party. So yeah, that’s where the universe matches the brand, you know?

MJ: . "How has your creative process evolved since your first collection, *Orlando*? One of my favorites, by the way."**

**AP:** Well, thank you so much! I remember that one. I think I stay very honest with myself. I always like telling stories. But I think there’s a strong cohesion between every collection I do. You know, I do things in a particular way, and that’s how I do them. But, going back to *Orlando*, I always explore the good and the bad—the idea of what’s meant to be good and what’s meant to be bad. The evil and the naive. There are always these two sides within us. The sexual and the romantic. In *Orlando*, we had the princes and the devils. You’ll see something like that again here—there will be the sexy and the selfless.

**MJ:** This is such a full-circle moment. I remember 2016. I remember wanting to see—

**AP:** *OMG, is this your first Palomo show?!*

**MJ:** Yes!

**AP:** It’s going to be a good show!

**MJ. "You've dressed iconic figures like Beyoncé and Harry Styles—how do you balance celebrity influence with staying true to your artistic vision?"**

**AP:** I see them as two completely different things, you know? My creative process for my universe is one thing, and then celebrities come along because they like what I do. It’s like a gift—a little something extra. It gives the brand credibility and takes it to another level, but it’s still two completely different worlds—my fashion and how they interpret it.

**MJ. "What inspired you to choose 'All of Heaven’s Parties' as the concept for this Spring/Summer 2025 collection?"**

**AP:** Honestly, it was from going out in New York. I went out to this place in Brooklyn, and I was dancing and sweating, feeling so free and liberated. It was so hot, and I thought, if there were a place on earth that felt like hell, it would be this. But then I thought, why hell? This freedom, this joy—this is what we should think of when we think of heaven. We are so happy here, and this is what heaven should be like. Associating all the fun things with hell? No, we’re changing that concept now.

**MJ:** I’m not going to lie—your shows are fun. I pop a bottle of champagne and watch them on YouTube, like my favorite Netflix series.

**AP:** *laughs* I love that! Great!

**MJ. "Your collections are known for their attention to detail. What details in this show should we be on the lookout for?"**

**AP:** Well, I think this collection, in particular, has been really, really detailed. We spent a lot of time this round with feathers, crystals, embroidery—there’s a lot of feather work, hand-embroidered lace, sequins on top of sequins, and stones on top of more stones. It’s all like one big mesh. We’ll embroider tulle with sequins, then beads, and then add feathers on top. It’s all about “more is more.”

**MJ:** I mean, backstage, I was looking, and even the attention to the hair was like… OH MY GOD. 

**AP:** Exactly.

**MJ:** Thank you so much. It’s an honor.

**AP:** The honor is mine that you’re here. 

As with all of Palomo Spain’s creations, 'All of Heaven’s Parties' was a breathtaking experience and nuanced collaboration with Spanish brand Bimba Y Lola (to make Bimba Y Palomo) who electrified the colleciton’s accessories with dazzling embellishments From **Alicia Padron’s** brilliant styling to the dynamic casting by **Jesse Hepworth**, and movement direction by **Ehizoje Azeke**, every, single detail was thoughtfully executed. The stunning makeup by **Marcelo Gutierrez** for MAC Pro Cosmetics and hair by **Laurent Philippon** for Cutler Salon added layers of artistry, while **Citoballesta**’s set design and floral arrangements by **Continental Breeding** and **Cantiza Floral** transformed the space. The entire production, under the direction of **Pelonio** and show direction by **Reepllica**, was truly something to behold. 

You can discover more about the magic behind this show on their instagram (@palomospain) and Palomo Spain’s website https://palomospain.com. 

**Alejandro**, it’s been a true honor to witness this, and I can’t wait to see what heavenly visions you create next.

Special thanks to Carla & Purple PR!