At HOUSE OF LAUREL, the designer invites us to a glamorous escape with joyful dressing where elegance isn’t an option, but a way of life
Rajo Laurel’s latest collection, Gilded, for HOUSE OF LAUREL interprets extravagance from a bygone age through a perspective of modern luxury. Inspired by Rene Gruau’s classic illustrations, the designer created a collection utilizing nostalgia with relevance.
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Old Hollywood Glamour
Gilded escapes to a time when fashion embodied sophistication when the mere act of dressing up transformed a person’s presence. “I’ve always admired Rene Gruau’s work. The fluidity of his line has mesmerized me since I was a young designer,” he says.
Gruau’s illustrations, often dripping with glamour and finesse, transported him to a different world—a world Laurel wanted to channel: pure elegance. “It’s that ‘snapshot’ in time we tried to capture, a moment that we tried to articulate in the collection.”
True Opulence is in the Feeling
The collection revives that elegance in a way that feels relevant today. Laurel sees opulence not as a price tag but as an emotion. It’s the feeling you get when you slip into something that makes you stand a little taller, walk with more confidence, and exude a sense of self-assuredness. “Dressing up is a form of self-care, and in this day and age, taking care of yourself is a luxury,” Laurel explains.
At HOUSE OF LAUREL, this fashion house‘s philosophy comes to life in how they approach fashion. Laurel describes the brand as an advocate of slow fashion, focusing on small batches of carefully crafted pieces. The idea of producing limited quantities not only adds exclusivity but also gives each item a one-of-a-kind quality. “That, to me, is true opulence,” Laurel says. “It’s not about excess, but about making each piece feel special.”
Timeless for Today
The collection itself is a curated mix of silhouettes and textures that evoke the golden age of Hollywood, but with an update. Classic staples, like corseted tube dresses and boat-neck designs, make a return, but they’ve been reimagined to fit today’s woman.
Laurel says the key to making these iconic designs relevant today lies in the balance. “We looked at the past and saw what resonates with today’s world. The question we always ask is: Will this piece resonate with our clients? Will it have a place in their lives?”
The Joy of Dressing Up
Though Gilded refers to the past, it also addresses the changing concept of femininity. Laurel, on the other hand, is not interested in changing the definition of femininity. Instead, he aims to empower his clients through fashion.“We’re here to support our clients, to make them feel good, feel worthy, feel seen,” he explains. “This holiday collection amplifies this by adding elements of celebration and joy.”
Laurel’s vision for Gilded is about experience. “I want my clients to feel optimistic, to experience a sense of meaningful happiness,” he shares. Ultimately, he sees fashion as an act of service. If his clients leave with a smile, glowing with the confidence his designs bring them, he considers that his ultimate success. “That gilded glow in their eyes when they wear our pieces—that’s our gift to them this holiday season.”
When your wardrobe can make you feel like you’ve just stepped off a Hollywood soundstage, why settle for anything less? With Gilded, Rajo Laurel is giving you a ticket to your own golden age.
Photos: RAJO LAUREL
