By Alyssa Boddicker
New York Fashion Week has come to an end and we’re already experiencing major fashion PTSD. There have been so many AMAZING fashion moments that they keep popping up in our heads like constant runway models strutting through our minds. We thought our best coping mechanism would be to look back on the week and see the emerging trends we have to look forward to for fall. It also doesn’t hurt that we have London (which has officially started, hurrah!) Paris, and Milan Fashion Weeks to look forward to…
Rag & Bone
Rag & Bone has always been loved for their tomboy approach to fashion. This season they added a skater, moto racing, dark twist to their collection with structured frames, gorgeous patterns and a subtle color scheme. Dark muted colors of greys, blacks, navys, and greens form a quite monochrome collection that mirror it’s industrial style. The skater approach, structure in the clothes and the show space gave the impression of a gritty city women ready to take on the world, an ideal Rag & Bone woman. Moto jackets and as well as motocross patterns seen in the graphics, stripes, and plaids add a sporty edge to this season’s looks while their classic comfort pieces like oversized sweaters still keep to what we love about fall, staying cozy and warm. Hats off to Rag & Bone for achieving the balance between the two.
Monique Lhuillier
Florals for fall? Groundbreaking…at least the way Monique Lhuillier does it. In her AW16 collection, Monique Lhuillier brought floral beaded patterns in full force that was anything but soft and feminine. Described as “boho business“, Lhuillier’s newest collection highlighted her masterful layering brought the perfect balance of the masculine and feminine between beaded gowns and heavy jackets. Botanical inspiration led to a more natural looking floral designs while helped make this collection not just more “pretty beading”. Her heavy winter jackets add a layer of richness to the looks which make this collection simply stunning. These gowns are sure to be seen on red carpets soon.
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera stands strong in who she believes her “woman” is. Her newest collection is the epitome of class with smooth, flowy, oh so graceful dresses, tops, and layers that left us feeling like we were floating through a fashionista’s dream. Creamy and soft fabrics were the highlight of the collection, where depth was found in each ensemble with thin silks placed against heavy furs in the most luxurious ways. Soft elegance is what made Herrera’s collection stand out from the dark and dreary colors and textures of fall, and what made this one of our favorite shows of NYFW.
Zac Posen
The strong woman has always been Zac Posen‘s ideal muse, and this collection is no different. He specifically based his collection off real life Ugandan Princess Elizabeth of Toro, the first East-African woman to be admitted the English bar. This collection traces through all of her life, from tribal batik wear to floral prints. Zac Posen masterfully encapsulates this icon into a gorgeous collection of deep colors, structured ensembles and flowing gowns.
Prabal Gurung
Silky and cool, both in style and color, Prabal Gurung’s AW16 collection gave us chills. With chunky knits and colored furs, winter was embraced in a way a modern snow queen would love. High slit skirts and dresses were continuous throughout the collection, and were masterfully juxtaposed against square work silhouettes. The color scheme of a cool winter walk a refreshing way to interpret an Autumn/Winter collection. Prabal Gurung once again found a way to make everyone who wears their clothes to look cool, collected and effortlessly chic be it at the office or on a red carpet.
Oscar De La Renta
The battle of the French versus the Americans continues in Oscar De La Renta’s newest collection for his AW16 collection. Bell-shaped fit and flare dresses, neat and lady-like jackets took on a strong silhouette. Peter Copping fused together Victorian elements with modern shapes and oyster grey, bordeaux, and french blue were the main colours found throughout the collection..
DKNY
This past fall was the turning point of the DKNY brand. For the first time since the beginning of Donna Karen New York, the DK in DKNY has not be the mind behind the clothing, but instead Creative Directors Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow. Their goal of this seasons collection was to “Celebrate the obvious, but turn things on their heads and flip things inside-out.” Their “obvious” inspiration was the 90’s and streetwear that made DKNY famous. Silky satins mixed with heavy knits and a dark yet warm palette was something to be admired. Some standout 90’s pieces in the collection were the silk overalls, boxy sweaters, and cropped silhouettes. Industrial boots were the official boot of the DKNY scene and added another industrial edge to the collection. The hairstyles were also killer. From half-up topknots to intricate braiding details, the edge of the collection was found everywhere. . In their second ever DKNY season, these new Creative Directors have given us a modern DKNY…thank you.
–
Want more? Check out this article on how three of NYFW’s top designers took unconventional approaches to their AW16 collections.
–