Flashy Party Clothes Make a Comeback — and Major Stars Can’t Get Enough of This Disco: Naeem Khan is All About Glamour for the Next Generation

NEW YORK — Naeem Khan just can’t get those uproarious nights at Studio 54 out of his mind. And that’s a good thing.

At age 20, Khan left his native India for New York, where he apprenticed with the legendary designer Halston during the height of the disco era in the late ’70s. Khan soon became a fixture on the club scene, partying at the infamous disco and other trendy locales with such Halston pals as Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger and Liza Minnelli.

Khan has looked to that boisterous era before for inspiration, but revisited it again in a more-over-the-top way for his spring/summer ’19 collection that debuted at New York Fashion Week. The colorful collection, which he dubbed “glamour for the next generation,” also references Truman Capote’s iconic Black and White Ball in 1966 and the Mudd Club, a top venue for underground music from 1978 to 1983.

The bottom line: These are flashy party clothes for the woman who wants to have a good time.

Runway Looks

Khan opened with a black one-shoulder evening gown of slashed fabric before moving to series of sleek, brightly-colored jersey gowns that recall Halston’s heyday. Beaded minidresses and jumpsuits with plunging necklines, sequined coverups, floaty caftans in bold butterfly patterns, neon-colored ruffled capes, and full skirts with embellished black T-shirt tops offer a little something for anyone who wants to trip the night fantastic and dance, dance, dance.

New Shoes

Alexandre Birman created two special shoe designs to accentuate Khan’s collection — an embroidered block heel in black, yellow, turquoise and orange, and a flat pool sandal with three signature bows at the top. Both shoe styles will be available next month online and at the Alexandre Birman flagship store in New York.

Front Row

Admiring the collection were Carmen Electra, Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor, Orange is the New Black co-star Jackie  Cruz and Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn, who tells the Associated Press that she because of her athletic build, “it’s hard to fit into dresses that don’t stretch and (Khan) makes them perfectly.”

Party On

While not as outlandish as an evening at Studio 54, Khan teamed with Chopard to celebrate his runway collection with a glamorous dinner party for 100 guests at the Zaha Hadid-designed building in Chelsea. Models Sofia Richie, Leomie Anderson, Nina Adgal, Jessica Clements, and Alyssa Miller mingled with Seacrest and Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman exec Linda Fargo and Chopard director of PR Desiree Gallas. They enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and live jazz music followed by an intimate seated dinner with tons of glittering Chopard jewelry on display.

In Houston, the Naeem Khan collection is available at Elizabeth Anthony.