Músed Demands You 'Love Thy Self' For Spring '18

Designer Lindsay Jones admits she's "not so big" on organized religion. Still, her brand Mused staged its spring '18 presentation within the High Line Hotel's ornately paneled refectory--an expansive space originally occupied by Episcopalians. With stained glass windows and towering ceilings as the backdrop, Jones was less interested in institutions and more so "the idea of divinity," and how that translates into ethereal, otherworldly fashion.

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Mused is still largely in its infancy, but has managed to penetrate New York's market by offering self-described "elegance with an edge." This season, that translated into stunning sheer gowns that framed the nude form with empowering embroidered messages like "Divine Fuck" and "Love Thy Self." Sophisticated, soft and still somehow subversive, Jones champions femininity on all bodies, regardless of gender, age or sexuality.

As a devoted mother to a queer daughter, Jones has surrounded herself with LGBTQ inspiration, from rapper Dick Van Dick to Whatever 21's Brian Whatever. This outsider influence, though subtle, inevitably seeps into Mused's DNA. Trans model Richie Moo opened the spring '18 show and a final pair of looks saw two women walk together--one in a navy suit and the other in a matching cocktail dress. "I feel most at home in the queer community," Jones said, "And really cherish the talent and beauty that exists there."

Photography: Kohl Murdock