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Bode’s Tribute to Moose Charlap in Fall 2025 Collection

For the Fall 2025 collection, Emily Adams Bode Aujla drew inspiration from the life and contributions of the renowned American composer Moose Charlap, celebrated for his work on the 1954 Broadway musical Peter Pan and the 1966 live adaptation of Alice Through the Looking Glass aired on NBC. This creative endeavor is deeply personal; Aujla’s connection to Charlap comes through family ties. Bill Charlap, Moose’s son and a noted jazz pianist, is married to Aujla’s husband Aaron Aujla’s aunt. It was through Bill’s engaging storytelling that they began to explore Moose’s artistic universe, prompting a unique choice for this season’s look book featuring miniature dolls instead of traditional models. “Bill illustrated Moose’s world beautifully through the stories he shared,” Aujla remarked. “We wanted to physically build those worlds to give context to the collection.”

Aujla elaborated on the collaborative approach to their creative process with her husband, stating, “Aaron and I frequently discuss our seasonal concepts. This time, we decided to hold off until we could thoroughly review scripts, examine family photos, and engage with Bill. There’s a significant amount of effort that goes into crafting these collections, and we were eager to tell a quintessential story of New York.”

The collection reflects various aspects of Moose’s experiences, including nostalgic summers spent at a camp in the Poconos, moments in Central Park before or after a performance, the iconic Winter Garden Theater—where Peter Pan first graced the stage—and the studio of painter Fernand Léger in Paris. One of Moose’s last unfinished projects was a musical crafted with lyricist Eddie Lawrence, which portrayed the life of a painter, a concept Bill described as a “proto-Sunday in the Park With George.”

This rich narrative unfolds into a collection of stunning garments that showcase Aujla’s signature style. Expect chunky, vintage-inspired knits, a range of soft, lightweight souvenir T-shirts, alongside standout items such as a flower-patterned corduroy suit, a striking green patchwork suede jacket, and floral-embroidered gray wool suits. While menswear remains rooted in classic aesthetics, the womenswear reveals a flair for theatricality. Aujla and her team envisioned what Moose’s wife, Sandy—an actress—might wear in a cinematic setting or during a glamorous evening at the opera. The collection features intricately embroidered ball gowns, beaded flapper dresses, and hand-appliquéd velvet gowns with gradient stripes, appealing to maximalist sensibilities. Among these designs, a hammered-silk dress showcasing a Léger-inspired print with fringe emerges as a definitive highlight, eagerly awaiting its moment on the red carpet.

Source
www.vogue.com