Last winter, Emily Smith traveled up to the Arctic Circle to “chase the light” of the aurora borealis, the Lafayette 148 creative director said.

“The northern lights, they really do dance in the sky,” she said, recalling a middle-of-the-night tour exhibition in Norway to see the natural phenomenon amid a snowstorm. Smith’s photographs of the lights were key to the collection, as seen pixelated and printed on skirts and dresses (one layered over a sequined slip was equally elegant and playful) or turned into a hand-painted water color on a bomber. But there were also less literal interpretations, as seen in a crackled leather jacket that evoked a rainbow effect in movement, holiday-minded tinsel sweaters and a cute alpaca wool Fair Isle jumper rendered in hues of the lights. 

While on her 10-day travels, the designer found ample inspiration, not only from the chromatic lights, but also the icy Arctic landscape and the cozy Hygge fashion of Scandinavian culture. It proved to be equally fruitful beyond the pretty technicolor layers. For instance, occasion wear that featured sparkling Swarovski crystal embellishments — a nod to starry night skies — or elevated expedition-inspired tailoring, as seen through cotton linen twill trousers and an easy anorak jacket. 

Whether channeling cozy Hygge style with head-to-toe cashmere layers or embracing the hues of the technicolor night skies, Smith successfully whipped her travels into an elevated, optimistic lineup that encompassed all of the holiday, pre-spring and winter needs the Lafayette 148 customer desires across the resort season.