Chapter Three: BodySocks & House of Parnel’s NYFW Debut -- 2022
The end of 2022 was a time of quiet rebuilding. As I stepped out of one of the hardest personal seasons of my life, creativity became both my anchor and my medicine. I haven't yet shared the details, but what I can say is this: I was coming out of a deep, transformative darkness, and I needed softness, warmth and most importantly, ease.
And that’s exactly how the BodySocks were born.
The Birth of the BodySocks
During those winter months, even the idea of getting dressed felt overwhelming. I needed clothes that didn’t ask anything from me. Pieces that held me, comforted me, and made me feel good without effort.
Using thick sweater cotton, I designed:
Sweater-knit bodysuits: warm, body-hugging, grounding.
Matching shrugs: soft cocoons for the shoulders, perfect for layering.
They were cozy, intimate pieces meant for the toughest winter days.
Designing the BodySocks was healing. It allowed me to connect with my creativity again, gently, without pressure. And the more I created, the better i felt.
The Photoshoot: A Quiet Celebration
I brought the collection to life in a small photoshoot. Nothing extravagant: just warmth, texture, and honesty. It was the first time I saw myself emerging again, expressing beauty through something that came from a deeply challenging moment. I have Cleo who is pictured in this shot, to thank for the creation of this shoot. I shot and produced the image with the help of a friend who allowed me to use his space as a creative outlet.
The NYFW Debut
That next year, House of Parnel stepped into New York Fashion Week for the first time. It felt surreal. To come from such a dark, internal winter and walk into NYFW with a collection rooted in comfort was symbolic in every way.
The BodySocks whispered a different narrative at the show:
simplicity is luxury, comfort is sexy, and ease can be just as powerful as drama.
What This Chapter Represented.
The end of 2022 and the year of 2023 was about re-emergence: quietly, gently, but undeniably.
This chapter showed that:
House of Parnel could hold vulnerability and power at the same time. Comfort could coexist with high fashion. And even after the darkest seasons, creation is always reachable.
The BodySocks was a winter capsule but they were also a bridge between who I was and who I was becoming, and a warm, wearable reminder that healing can be beautiful and tangible.
