Summary: Cleverly arranging the collection by decade around the theme of what the well dressed Prom Queen would (or should) have worn from the 1950s through the 2000s, the often oversize tulle confections managed to negotiate the line of seeming retro but completely wearable - without feeling too costume drama or overly vintage. Party-hopping in the showstopping butter yellow boufant dress from the "50s" would easily force fellow partygoers to stop, stare & then part en masse in order for her highness to glide by...which is really what everyone's inner prom queen secretly craves.
Color Palette: pastels, black, fuschia, pale pink, butter yellow, sparkly chartreuse, cobalt, shimmery pale prints
Textures & Details: polka dots; miles of tulle underlays & crinolines; self fabric bows, satin & shine, ruffles, belted or defined waists (both at the natural waist & higher at the empire)...basically any & all weapons in the girlie girl arsenal
Key Looks: ginormous butter yellow 50s tulle gown, black & white polka dot halter dress, 80s black & fuschia mini with fuschia bow-adorned hem; cobalt & white polka dot dress
- Lesley Scott
(photos: nymag.com)
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Summary: Silk and satin fabrics dominated the collection, providing a luminous glow and dreamy silhouette, while dip-dyed and colorblock fabrics added a punch of color to an otherwise subdued color palette. The overall effect? Lightweight & effortless.
Color Palette: cream, white, haze/apricot, rose, sand, cinnamon, black/blush, black, mauve, peach, stone, oatmeal
Textures & Details: silk charmeuse, pintucked rayon, cotton, linen gauze, pintucked silk/cotton, silk crepe de chine, knitted cashmere, dip-dyed fabrics, appliqué, colorblocking
Key Looks: cream colorblock silk charmeuse dress, haze/apricot dip-dyed rayon slipdress with taupe leather belt, cream silk charmeuse blouse with dip-dyed silk charmeuse short, dip-dyed satin minidress, oatmeal cotton dobby jacket with rose hammered-satin tunic & sand knitted cashmere short, cotton canvas jacket with black dip-dyed rayon top and rose pleated silk crepe de chine short with black leather belt
- Kim Weling
(photos: style.com)
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Summary: The show ended with models whizzing by on bicycles, followed by Rowley herself, inspired by an active and healthy lifestyle...whether it be riding your bicycle, playing tennis or going for a stroll. “70s sporty, sport of the leisure class, a little croquet, cricket," explains Rowley about her French-inspired Lace Sportif collection. "Everything was very long and lean, athletic-inspired.” Gold bicycle charm necklaces definitely added a golden touch, while the breezy & playful dresses, racerback dresses, shirtdresses and classy suits proved perfect for an outdoor atmosphere - adding up to a collection brimming with sporty, sophisticated chic. (Be sure to check out the exclusive Fashiontribes video interview backstage with Cynthia Rowley at Moli.com!)
Color Palette: ivory, camel, navy, stripes, chain print, pastels such as strawberry, pistachio & Neapolitan
Textures & Details: silk pique, cashmere, cotton sateen, ringlet fringe, enameled neck bangles
Key Looks: silk pique suit with camel cashmere sweater vest, cashmere tunic with silk racerback slip, silk racerback dress, coated silk tunic, dress with cashmere cardigan, tank dress with ringlet fringe, long party chain print dress
- Kim Weling
(photos: style.com)
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Summary: Vivid and eye-catching - yet relaxed - pieces bring sunshine and easy living to mind in a collection which offered every hue imaginable: bright oranges, cheery blues, yellows, pinks, lavender/lilac, golden tones and array of graphic prints. Parasols-to-match and large brimmed hats were tailor-made for strolling in Central Park on a Sunday afternoon or attending church in appropriately tasteful attire. Reese continues to shine through, delivering classic and feminine-style beauty with color and imagination.
Color Palette: black, ebony, white, ivory, henna, cobalt, periwinkle, deep navy, almond, antique gold, amber, cherry, pinstripes, peacock swirl, ebony kaleidoscope, kimono graphic
Textures & Details: grosgrain, glossy linen, twill, jacquard, georgette, sequins, embroidered details, running stitch embroidery, beading, silk appliqué,
Key Looks: crepe de chine flounced sleeve blouse with high waist sailor pant, grosgrain striped draped sleeve gown with large brimmed hat, sequined flared slip, straw gilded jacquard coat with sequined mini-slip, 30s wrap dress and parasol, scalloped halter with cuffed shorts, georgette scalloped halter slip, beaded scallop slip
- Kim Weling
(photos: style.com)
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Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion showcased six womenswear designers, all with promising careers ahead of them. (For more on Fresh Faces, CLICK HERE to check out our in-depth post.) Here’s a brief look of what can be seen in their current collections and what they had to say:
Whistle & Flute showed Urban Concrete Jungle, a collection of color-blocked and shimmery pieces which design duoYoon Chang and Je-Won explain demonstrates the contrast between nature and brights. When asked what the hardest thing is in becoming a designer, they quickly said that getting exposure and making yourself known was definitely it. The favorite in their collection: the sporty & versatile mesh line dress.
For Mooka Kinney, designers Rachel Antanoff and Alison Lewis showed colorful, lightweight print dresses and jumpers.
Delphyne by French designer Delphyne Guiraud introduced a classy white and black palette, with a stand-out black and white embroidered coat. Her collection is about transparency, incorporating green stripes for a graphic silhouette and applying a mix of cotton/silk fabrics. Delphyne’s favorite: the black/white striped wood collar top.
Dagmar designers Karin Soderlind, Kristina Tjader and Sofia Malm incorporated jersey and knitwear fabrics into the jumpers, dresses and jackets. Key pieces: light blue pleat dress & leather shorts.
Bensoni designer duo Benjamin Channing Clyburn and Sonia Yoon showcase a black white, neutral and striped color palette with a trench coatdress and silk one-piece romper as key looks.
Grace Sun dubbed her collection Tropics in the City,
an urban closet of prints, solids and neutrals transpired from tropical
destinations. Grace designs for the 30-something sophisticated woman.
When asked how
she had made the switch from graphic designer to fashion designer,
Grace said that her love for fashion had enticed her take steps toward
her new career path, and after interning at Phillip Lim she decided to
make the jump. “The hardest part about designing is that I am a
one-woman company, working on all aspects – pr, design and
development,” says Grace.
- Kim Weling
(photos: nymag.com)
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(photo: fashionwindows.com)
IMG Fashion, the producer of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, just announced that an agreement has finally been reached with the city of New York and the Parks Department. Held beneath the iconic white tents, the twice-yearly event is attended by over 3500 credentialed individuals representing fashion buyers & the global fashion & lifestyle media.
Under the terms of the new contract, the venue will remain in Bryant Park through February 2010...the longest term contract ever signed by IMG with Bryant Park. “We couldn’t be happier,” says IMG Fashion svp Fern Mallis. “The event is synonymous with Bryant Park and, though the search for a new location continues with the Mayor’s office and Parks Department, we are happy that all parties will be able to continue to plan for upcoming events while new locations are explored by IMG in concert with the City.”
- Lesley Scott
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Summary: When asked what the inspiration was for her spring ’08 collection, Akiko replied, “Greek sculpture, which is very strong.” With platform patent leather sandals and knee-high platform boots accompanying most of the looks, the entire collection appeared very statuesque, in particular with several white babydoll dresses with varied detailing. A polyurethane treated cotton coatdress with jewel trim embodied futuristic luxury, while a sporty, feminine side was evident in fluorescent silk acetate organza jodhpurs, a hooded parka & racer back dress.
Color Palette: white, cream, silver, black, dark khaki, green, pink and turquoise, India ink print
Textures & Details: silk acetate organza, cotton, floral appliqué, polyurethane treated polyester, grey and white painted cotton with hand applied painted border, silk with hand applied black painted detail, jewel detail, garment dyed cotton, tulle
Key Looks: white cotton baby doll dress, tie neck and white painted floral appliqué trim, strapless white cotton baby doll dress with white painted floral appliqué, white polyurethane treated polyester cropped hooded jacket, polyurethane treated cotton coatdress with jewel detail, nude cotton dress with black tulle overlay and pailette, India ink printed silk gown with pailette border
- Kim Weling
(photos: myfashionweek.com)
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Summary: Gideon Oberson’s Spring 2008 collection Brazilian-Bond Girls portrayed a sexy adventure to exotic locations to destinations such as Brazil, the Greek Isles and Belize.The array of bikinis, one-piece and cut-out suits featured strong, festive colors & cuts, while flowing floral colorful ponchos and pareos with a vibrant peacock featherprint design - that tied to the elbows and wrists - added a dose of show-stopping luxury. The goddess-like finale featured a model duo walking the runway in white feathered bikinis.
Color Palette: yellow and black, white, black, iris, brown, opal, black tulip print, floral print, terra print
Suit Details: On one-pieces- cut-out, bandeau, halter, high-neck, one-shoulder, deep-v
Key Looks: halter cut-out one piece, terra print mesh dress, floral suit, black tulip bikini with caftan, floral ponchos, peacock print pareos, white feather bikins
- Kim Weling
(all photos from mbfashionweek.com & except for bottom row, far right: telegraph.co.uk)
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Summary: Who wouldn't want to visit what the designer identified as the "wilder shores of love" when the dress code includes smartly chic wrap-coatdresses & shorts suits, one-shouldered floral print cocktail frocks, breezy print day dresses, and floor length gowns replete with colors & scenes of a tropical paradise?
Color Palette: tropical prints, white, shimmery pale butter, muted yellow, green, cobalt, black
Textures & Details: prints, drapey elegant ease, layers
Key Looks: pale yellow wrap coatdress; one-shoulder floral print cocktail dress; full length floral gowns
- Lesley Scott
(photos: style.com)
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Summary: For a full-skirted, wasp-waisted girlie girl moment, Acra's frocks in tomato red, intense purple & emerald green charmeuse are perfect. The poofy sleeve popping up on many a runway made an appearance, as did the metallic showstopping gown - this one with an eyecatching fully beaded epaulet shoulder.
Color Palette: emerald, tomato red, intense purple, ivory, black, chartreuse, black & white prints, muted florals
Textures & Details: charmeuse, beading, brightly colored belts in purple & green against contrasting colors
Key Looks: full-skirted day dresses in black, green & red; full length gown with beaded shoulders
- Lesley Scott
(photos: nymag.com)
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