AT FEAR OF GOD'S FIRST FASHION SHOW, EXPECT ESSENTIALS, ELEGANCE & A-LISTERS

That Fear of God has never hosted a proper fashion show before is nothing if not wild. Jerry Lorenzo's fashion imprint has been around for a decade now so it's high time that Fear of God took to the runway.

Finally, on April 19, Fear of God's promise of American Luxury peaks with a runway presentation at the Hollywood Bowl, an institution in Fear of God's hometown of Los Angeles.

The exclusive event promises A-list fans — celebrities, musicians, and athletes are drawn to Fear of God (FOG) like moths to a flame (remember when Jared Leto modeled FOG's Sixth Collection?) — and little more.

FOG's invitations and Instagram posts about the fashion show remain tight-lipped on what fans ought to actually expect but I'd say it's a fair bet that we'll see co-ed iterations of Lorenzo's typically louche tailoring, washed denim layers, and basketball-friendly sweats.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Lorenzo uses this headline-worthy opportunity to properly unveil Fear of God Athletics, his long-awaited collaboration with adidas. With purported imagery of FOG Athletics sneakers making their way across the internet years after FOG Athletics was actually announced, the timing seems right.

Fear of God's uber-popular ESSENTIALS sub-label may also make an appearance, judging from the Instagram posts that it's uploaded with the date of the fashion show.

I probably would have figured that Lorenzo would wanna keep the focus on mainline FOG, but ESSENTIALS remains as in-demand as ever and, with its seasonal campaigns boasting evermore elevated imagery, now's as good a time as any to further reposition it.

Collaborations outside of the adidas line seem just as likely. But, besides previous partners like New Era and Birkenstock, who else could Fear of God invite into its world?

Either way, this runway feels very much like a Fear of God homecoming.

FOG has kept a relatively low-key presence over the past few years, a tamping-down of its visibility since the omnipresent highs of the mid-2010s.

There was a period of time in which Fear of God's name was synonymous with, basically, higher-end streetwear akin to the vibes offered by Californian peers like John Elliott, James Perse, Rhude, and Stampd.

But, over the past few years, FOG has been keen to distinguish its mainline clothing as proper luxury. 2021's Seventh Collection, released three years after Leto modeled the Sixth Collection, was a marked evolution of the stylistic tropes that've been present since the early days of the FOG line.

Whereas early FOG offerings focused on bomber jackets and slim denim jeans, recent editorials are rife with boxy peak lapel blazers, military-inspired work shirts, and pleated slacks.

Gone are the vintage band T-shirts that Lorenzo once sourced for musicians like Justin Bieber; in their place are knitted mid-layers co-created with the house of Zegna.

FOG ESSENTIALS now fills the street-casual niche, leaving Fear of God's mainline collection to grow more urbane. More Purple Label, less Polo.

I always wonder if Fear of God's consumer demographics have shifted with the label's stylistic growth or if it now caters to entirely different clientele with the separate lines.

If so, perhaps the April 19 runway show will see FOG merging its disparate design cues into a comprehensive mélange. It's cliché but true: FOG sells something for everyone.

That's another distinguishing factor.

While other fashion shows cater exclusively to the blue chip clientele of top-tier luxury labels, Fear of God innately enjoys attention from its diverse fanbase. Everything from the streetwear-savvy kids to the rich people who live a couple dozen miles away in Beverly Hills will be watching.