NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a bit of a vintage vibe at New York Fashion Week, with many designers mining bygone eras as inspiration for their new fall collections.
The outfits are distinctly feminine, although there are many menswear touches. The brown, moss and grey backdrop is made richer with plum, berry and blue.
Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour’s fashion editor at large, was keeping an eye out Tuesday for tulle overlays over printed fabrics and oversized embellishments.
“I call them rocks. They’re heavy, chunky and very cool looking,” she said.
Previews for stylists, editors and retail buyers continue through Friday, with heavy hitters Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren still to weigh in. Tommy Hilfiger also returns to the schedule Friday, after taking a several-seasons hiatus.
? Betsey Johnson: Betsey Johnson turned the fashion world upside down — twice — at her charm school-theme runway show. First, she sent out some of the longest skirts, subtle colours and most wearable outfits seen at Fashion Week so far. This from a woman who in seasons past basically staged X-rated peep shows.
Then the 60-something Johnson did her signature cartwheel, in high heels, and landed as gracefully as a teenage gymnast.
The daytime outfits were the highlight of the collection, especially a navy crocheted sheath with a peplum at the waist, a black wool sheath with tight pleats at the hem and a cosy hooded mohair anorak in a heathered grey with white stripes. But what’s likely to be the most popular items were in the parade of prom-ready dresses.
Relax mom, girls will look pretty and proper in the one-shoulder plum organza dress with tiered ruffles on the bottom, or the ivory ribbon-embroidered chemise — it’s short but not too short.
? Bill Blass: Designers “borrow” ideas from each other all the time, but few of them acknowledge it.
Michael Vollbracht, though, is an honest guy and he credited creations by the late Bill Blass, Roy Halston and Norman Norell as the foundations of his new collection.
He explained why in a note provided to the audience: “Mr. Norell — because I fell in love with his sequined mermaids years and years ago when I was a very young designer. Halston … because his simple philosophy looks so good in this era of over-designing. And of course Blass — because it is my job to knock him off.”
But after three years as the creative force at Blass, Vollbracht also showed he is confident enough to tweak the look of those he admired, keeping the overall look modern, something he’d been criticized for not doing a few seasons ago.
A short and sassy blue jersey swing dress and a cozy white cashmere one could be worn by a 20-year-old or a 50-year-old, especially with the dark opaque tights that have been all over runways. Coats also had a light touch, though surely a forest-green mink coat, with the texture of corduroy, would keep its wearer warm.
The Blass label increasingly is a red-carpet player, too, and there were several choices for Hollywood types.
The more daring star might go for a gown with a black leather bodice and floating black chiffon bottom, while a black sequin halter gown with a mermaid hem, one of those Norell touches, would be a safer choice.
? Monique Lhuillier: Monique Lhuillier continues to evolve her collection beyond her trademark pretty and ladylike clothes, while still keeping everything pretty and ladylike — there’s just an edge to it all now.
“This season is all about industrial chic,” Lhuillier declared in a statement. Architect Frank Gehry’s work was an inspiration, she said, especially “his use of different kinds of metal and steel to create unusual and interesting forms.”
On a dress, this translated to high-neck dresses and gowns adorned with what looked like gold coins or hammered metal.
There also was a lot of structure to the clothes and a slim fit.
Schwartz said she was trying to envision the eveningwear on the red carpet. She’d like to see Cate Blanchett either in Lhuillier’s rose chiffon gown with a panel of pleats down the front, or the emerald green corset gown.
? Marc Jacobs: This is what the fashion crowd was waiting for: A definitive sign that the shape of fashion will be different next season.
More than any other American designer, Marc Jacobs is the bellwether and he treated his beyond-capacity crowd earlier this week to long, lean clothes that were devoid of gimmicks but still had sparkle, thanks to several sequined pieces.
Models, including Shalom Harlow making a rare appearance on the runway, wore 1920s-inspired hats to complement pleated shirtdresses that went below the knee and menswear-style vests and narrow-leg — though not “skinny” — pants.
There was more than one jumpsuit and while jumpsuits normally either look dated or are incredibly difficult to pull off, Jacobs’ navy one covered with subtle embroidered bows actually worked.
(The jury is still out on the decision to put stirrups on the bottoms of most pants.)
Eveningwear was either tailored tuxedos, or dropped-waist or draped dresses; a teal strapless velvet gown with an oversized bow at the bustline was his finale piece.
Jacobs did tap into some already-emerging trends, including using teal and berry against an overall palette of grey, navy, beige and winter white, as well as mixing textures, almost ensuring that those looks will take off.