Designing Man: Victor de Souza’s Headwear Collection

They say your clothes shouldn’t enter the room before you do, but, if you’re Victor de Souza that’s another story. That’s because they’re being worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Cindy Lauper, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, and Sarah Jessica Parker. On our red carpets, you’ll see them on our own Jean Shafiroff, Penny Grant, Barbara Regna, Dawn Marie Grantham, Joy Marks, and Chiu-ti Jansen.

Glittering headbands are the perfect match to one of Victor de Souza’s gowns. (Photo: Owen Hoffmann/PatrickMcMullan.com)

More fun than a barrel of Manolos, a room full of Victor De Souzas new headwear collection lured Manhattan’s Upper East Side to Soho’s Osswald Parfumerie and Luxury Skincare Boutique, for a soiree hosted by friend and muse Chiu-ti Jansen. The West Broadway boutique will house the headwear, but de Souza’s couture collection is still acquired by appointment only.

Chiu-ti calls the perfectly fitted structural shapes and lines “classicism with a twist. In a world where people are wearing clothes to shock, to attract unnecessary attention,” she told us. “Victor always believes it has to be something very, very intrinsic — and then you add something on your own.” Chiu-ti was wearing a turquoise jumpsuit. The violet flower perched on her head, a perfect match to the shoes she wore to the original fitting, was the perfect illustration of that vision. “I have an artistic side to my personality and he sees that. I’m also very blessed, because Victor’s sample sizes fit me proportionally very well.”

“Tonight we have an amazing party,” Victor enthused, by the time we got through to him. “Great, great people came in. I’m very happy.” The champagne flowed, and the food was as perfect as the designs.

The collection is a way to make Victor’s couture accessible without degrading the quality of the product. “My dresses are expensive to produce and, so, are not for everybody.” Victor continued. “The only thing people wear with my gowns is diamonds — and costume jewelry.” (Yes, readers, all that glitters…)

“A great headpiece was the answer,” says the designer. “You can have big ones, small ones, headbands. People can wear them with gowns and cocktail dresses and it’s something everybody can afford. It’s made with the same care as my couture gowns: all hand-made with great materials and I check each piece before it goes out.”

Where can you find a little piece of Victor? He tells Hamptons.com, “I’m in the Carlysle hotel and here. Soon we’re going to be in Zurich. I’m also talking to other stores. Then, basically, everyone can have a little piece of my couture.”