Dude where's my sleeves?
I like the idea here from Nomia by Yara Flynn, (www.nomia-nyc.com) of a more jacket- like vest. What would you call this? Is it a sleeveless coat? Whatever you want to call it, the utilitarian feel of this garment would also work great with a t-shirt and jeans, and for more figure flattery one of the season’s wide belts over a shift dress.
The Gold Standard
Metallic tones were always in evidence on the runways, some are just more subtle, and rely on design more than shine. From one of my fashion favorites, Elene Cassis (www.elenecassis.com) we have clean lines and an interesting waist line detail on this elegant cocktail dress. The textured silk works well to keep the look luxurious and classy. The bib necklace, and large bangles by Sobral (www.sobral.com) add just the right tone to balance the oversize sash.
Bejeweled Beauty
Evening wear designer, Sherri Hill (www.sherrihill.com) almost had her show overshadowed by the presence of reality starlets Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, who sat front row to cheer on their little sister model Kendall Jenner. It also didn’t hurt that film crews were at hand capturing the moment for their style network series. To be fair to Ms. Hill, the designs were intricately breathtaking, as was Ms. Jenner in a jeweled bustier gown with a slit “up to there” that revealed a jeweled panty peeking out for modesty’s sake. Lots of glamour, glitter and gowns for the red carpet set.
Fancy Footwork
Carlos Campos (www.carloscampos.com/) menswear was in tune with man’s past, as well as taking these classic looks into the future without the “edginess” that can scare males away. His take on putting it together tweaked traditional color combinations by making the blues more purple and the reds more coral. In a sense the best use of the hackneyed phrase “classic yet modern” works here. Guys may actually want to wear these great designs. The footwear he paired with the looks also echoed many shows where women adopted the styles of these masculine spectator shoes. The zigzag chevron pattern mixed with the brown leather was a winner in my book!
Mixed Up
Colorfully fun, almost giddy is the way to describe Chris Benz’ (http://www.chris-benz.com/) fashion sense. Playfully posed models on packing boxes let us examine the way that prints may “go together” but not necessarily “match”. In his collection floral prints kept an easy company with graphic patterns, stripes and solids. The hair was puffball pretty and provided some balance to the merry mash ups! Slacks, dresses, separates—it doesn’t really matter when you know what you’re doing and have confidence in your vision like Mr. Benz does!
Blockheads
Color blocking is still relevant, and I ask you has it ever looked better? Lela Rose (www.lelarose.com) ramped up her girly style with fun pieces that exuded her love of life and wearable design for real women. Neutral jackets tossed over the shoulder worn with colorful camp shorts and chunky wooden jewelry keep it easy to coordinate and breezy to wear.
Coming up Shirt
Schoolgirl sexy was the order of the day for Givanna Randall designer for Honor (www.honornyc.com). Long maxi dresses that had a shirtwaist effect looked cool with the menswear inspired footwear. The contrasting Peter Pan type collars gave it a retro-cool vibe. The entire collection was inspirational for a lot of the right reasons.
Wide and Wearable
Wide legged pantsuits reminiscent of the fabulous Yves Saint Laurent in the ‘70s are still walking proud down the runway. Proportion played a key role in Carlos Miele’s spring collection (www.wix.com/carlos_miele/home), where flow was everything. If it didn’t move while they walked, he didn’t show it. These seemingly simple draped garments are harder to successfully pull off design wise than almost any other style. The finale was a riot of color and movement that were a testament to this designer’s sinuous style.
Teal the Truth
Jenny Packham (www.jennypackham.com) knows how to make women feel like movie stars. Color and silhouettes that flatter without being constricting are her calling card. Look at her use of color here in this one-shouldered dress. The garment does not overshadow the model, but instead points out her beauty. That is what good design is all about, no matter who wears it.
Trapeze Act
The ever-popular trapeze style made an appearance at designer Son Jung Wan (www.sonjungwan.com). The over dyed effect was just beautiful on this grey silk and proved what would be a winning look for almost any woman, regardless of her size. Her work is some of the most beautiful every fashion week, so make sure to keep an eye out for her name!
I would go on and on, but I have to save some surprises for you when winter sets in and we need some fashion fumes to go on! Until then check out the nearly new fashions that come in every day at the Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center near you. You just might find some runway inspired looks for yourself!
