ERL FW24: back to high school

The California designer looks at Venice Beach high schools for his new collection.

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On the sunny shores of Venice Beach, rebellious designer Eli Russell Linnetz has unleashed a storm of style with his latest creation: the ERL Fall/Winter 2024 collection. Drawing inspiration from the youth of the 1990s, Linnetz immerses himself in local high schools to capture the essence of teens living transformative high school-era moments.

This season, ERL presents us with an ode to youthful fun with an explosion of energy that encapsulates the essence of high school characters. From the muscular jocks to the creative drama students, each ensemble tells a story. High school jocks steal center stage with baseball bats and field hockey sticks in hand. Short California sweatshirts and tight-fitting athletic leggings enhance their toned physiques, creating a symphony of style and sport. While members of the soccer team prepare for kickoff in padded uniforms, runners dazzle on the field in miniature attire that screams speed and determination.

Field hockey players, hot and sweaty, parade around in grungy suits and hand-painted skull graphics that add a rebellious touch to the ice. ’90s style takes over the runway with retro haircuts, embellished T-shirts and ultra-baggy denim, while California surfers greet the sun in flip-flops and wave prints.

But ERL’s diversity goes beyond that. Theater students wear faded work jackets, flannel shirts and flared pants that peel away to reveal the skin underneath. Linnetz dives into his archive to rescue vintage Everlast gear befitting the boxing ring to dress field hockey players in zebra-print quilting.

Punk rock artists make their triumphant entrance practicing their songs in studded leather biker jackets, creating a perfect contrast to logic-defying party outfits and frilly dresses that transition effortlessly from rebelliousness to suburban life.

ERL’s new collection is a statement of dissidence and the beauty of being young, rebellious and completely unique.

For more on the Fall/Winter 2024 collections, click here.