Linder is well known for their gender ambiguous, lovably queer, and eccentric styles. At New York Fashion Week: Men’s this season the brand went the regal route under the direction of their menswear designer Kirk Millar, who found his inspiration in the reign and execution of the Russian Royal Family: The House of Romanov. 

The story of the brutal execution of the House of Romanov was used as an allegory foe the fashion industry and the disruption Millar sees happening in this decade. “I tried to make this collection very fantasy based,” Millar said. “I tried to incorporate the types of things people wear everyday, like denim, I always feel likes it’s important to do our own version of that.”

The brand has been able to develop a cult following through their design approach which breaks away from traditional gender norms and the rejecting archaic ideas of the masculine. “For me it’s just how I process,” Millar said. “I’m friends with a lot of guys who love to dress beautifully and will dress with things that have a feminine twist to it. I’m inspired by the people around me in that way, and I think it’s just nice to be able to incorporate that into a wardrobe.”

Whereas fashion is continuing to go through an identity shift, Linder is also exploring new parts of their identity, such as their use of color. When the brand was in its beginning days they used a lot more color including light blue, orange, and yellow. “With this season we used things like poppy red, which felt very Russian,” Millar said. “It fit into the Romanov story I wanted to tell. I also want to make things that grab attention and are beautiful and sensitive.”

Millar’s biggest inspiration every season is his desire for a more aesthetically pleasing world. “I just like to see more beauty in the world and the work from other people,” Millar said. “I often feel a little bit uninspired by things I see, because I see a lot of things that are harsh and loud that don’t really incorporate my type of sensitivity into the world. That’s why my collection is almost rebellious in a way.”  

Better to be a rebel than terribly dressed. Linder’s here to give you reasons to be pretty.