Runway Rundown
Prominent trends from the latest New York Fashion Week
Style / 21 Sep 2011
With approximately 250 shows in just seven days, it’s hard to imagine whittling down New York Fashion Week into just a few bullet points. Yet once again, it seems that the designers were all on the same page when it comes to the trends on display in the Big Apple last week. Here are the stand-outs:
Prints Charming: The Americana-inspired Navajo patterns seen on fall runways have yielded to even bolder prints. Thakoon melded western wear with Bollywood-inspired psychedelic swirls, creating looks that were as gilded as they were groovy. Florals took on massive proportions, as everyone from standard-bearer DKNY to Parisian It Girl favorite Kevork Kiledjian to up-and-comer Prabal Gurung were poised to bloom. And then there were a few tongue-in-cheek prints: Jeremy Scott’s ode to Elly Mae Clampett included lots of cacti, while Anna Sui showed hearts, stars, and, yes, toothbrushes. The critics weren’t universally charmed, but it’s safe to say that by next spring there will be pattern recognition.
Be A Sport: Alexander Wang continued his athletic obsession with nods to motocross (mesh bomber jackets) and golf (bags big enough to hold some clubs). He wasn’t alone: BCBG Max Azria paired floaty dresses with ’90s track suit tops, while 3.1 Phillip Lim’s pastel-colored pants with zips down the sides were reminiscent of the tear-away warm-ups popular among basketball teams. Meanwhile, Cynthia Rowley showed jersey-inspired tops and quilted soccer ball-esque bags alongside graphic florals. The trend may have had something to do with the front row guests, as star athletes like LeBron James and Brad Richards were seated among the fashion icons and movie stars.
It’s A Sherbet: While black may still be standard issue for the average New Yorker, spring’s runway palette veered toward the more cheerful end of the spectrum with colors seemingly scooped from a tub of sherbet. At Adam, there were lilac silk jackets; at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Creamsicle blouses; and, at Ralph Lauren, cotton candy pink fluttery dresses and fluffy boas. Rag & Bone featured late-night party versions of the frothy colors (think bright Clementine orange). Marc Jacobs, considered the most directional of all designers to show in New York, veered toward pretty, pale hues—he opened his show with an iridescent blush top, before ending with seafoam green and milky gray dresses.
©The Intelligence Group