It’s a great time to be Barbara Tfank. Having stayed true to herself and her vision of elegance and femininity, she’s finding that there has been a return to glamour in fashion—especially with the revival of so-called Swan culture. “There’s a kind of joy in dressing again. It’s great to see people looking back at the greats of the past and letting that inspire them,” said Tfank.
For her fall 2024 collection, she included many shorter options for the modern-day swans who likely have fewer balls to attend than Babe Paley. A standout included a short sheer organza gown with three-dimensional floral applique that had a casual appeal because of its length, but still read as “evening.” The designer is also still obsessed with kid gloves, which she introduced in her fall 2023 collection, pairing them with strapless satin gowns or one-shouldered looks. She recalled being a little girl in New York and how people would always wear leather gloves on public transportation. While Tfank has been a longtime fan of shawls, this season she looked to little embroidered capelets to pair with her pieces as outerwear. “I’m not dictating to my clients when to wear the pieces,” Tfank added. “Do whatever you want, wear it, and enjoy it.”
