5000 Suits Up

A masterclass in intellectualizing your feelings.

“Bootsy: a Bay-area slang [sic] that describes someone or something as uncool, awkward, or out of touch,” the show notes read. In the context of the Oakland, California native designer Taylor Thompson’s suiting specialty, the collection’s theme rings rather ironic. Home of tech-haven Silicon Valley, the show strikes political parallels to what's considered “Bootsy”, which could also mean “something bold, outrageous or eccentric,” drawing from the persona of funk legend Bootsy Collins. With the slang’s etymology made out from the French word bourgeois, I could not help but think of the current cultural pull of the tech bros, once depicted as dorky and sometimes socially inept nerds in pop culture, who now hold a cache of enormous political power and wealth behind their carefully curated public personas. Thompson’s vision of Bootsy is about intellectualizing feelings of insecurity and transforming them into authenticity.

The show started strongly on the rooftop of Manhattan’s Nine Orchard Hotel, with a smart and suave pantsuit paired with a striking red and black pinstripe tie. Models strided confidently down the runway in oversized blazers draped in trains that swept the floor when uncovered, while other pieces floated about with crinkled lamé-like fabrics. One bespeckled model apprehensively looked around the audience, Muji notebook in hand. The show ended in an acid wash dress buttoned asymmetrically with precision—an unexpected but much-appreciated touch. 

Aside from the political irony, the show exhibited its power through femininity and sensuality. With a muted, neutral palette of browns, greys, and whites, Thompson demonstrated the versatility of the classic suit with a Bay Area edge. At some parts, I questioned if the show exhibited “camp,” as the show notes suggested. The looks were undoubtedly contemporary and stylish, but fell short of the boldness to dare to have the models appear more than a little awkward on the runway—something that is essential for a campy show. 

Rather, the collection felt like a vulnerable homage to Thompson’s hometown. Bringing the relaxed and easygoing nature of the Bay Area to Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the collection featured oversized coats, blazers with draping trains, and tastefully bleached fabrics. Personality and punk met with formal and office-friendly attire, as if to say that being unapologetically yourself in an unfamiliar place, even if you do feel a little insecure about it, is the essence of what “Boosty” is about.

“[The show] was a lot of wanting to keep the Bay Area and Oakland native and storytelling about home to some degree and just highlighting the culture of the Bay Area,” Thompson told WWD. 

In short, 5000 put together a show that celebrated individuality and inspired me to be comfortable within my own Bootsy-ness. 🌀 7.9

Niya Doyle is a forever East Coast-based writer, beauty buff, and cat lover. She is a freelance journalist for HALOSCOPE covering beauty. You can follow her makeup and skincare journey on TikTok.