As temperatures begin to drop and Fall weather is finally setting in, most of us are pulling out our jeans, light sweaters and boots, but the fashion world is already two whole seasons ahead. This past week marked the beginning of Fashion Weeks across the globe beginning in New York. The Big Apple was abuzz with fashion elites and celebrities last week, packing over 100 shows debuting their Spring 2016 ready-to-wear collections. This marked the first New York Fashion Week not backed by long time sponsor Mercedes Benz. The location has also changed from Lincoln Center to venues on the Lower East Side and SoHo area. The newly reinvented Fashion Week is attempting to be less commercialized and sponsor-heavy, instead focusing on the fashion, beauty and creativity.
Most of us weren't fortunate enough to view the fashion first hand, unless of course you're North West, but I'm here to break down the top five best collections. While the runway appears to be a place for the extravagant and out there pieces, these designers set the trends for the next season that eventually trickles its way down to your local stores. For now, however, we can appreciate the beauty in couture as a model struts down the catwalk in a $10,000 gown.
Marchesa
Marchesa is known for its beautiful and elegant evening wear, worn by myriad celebrities on the red carpet. Creative directors Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig once again showcased their talents in an ethereal, romantic collection this season. Models were the pictures of elegance as they glided down the runway covered in Chantilly lace and tulle. The show began with a classic black and white color palette and continued on with pops of color featured in hot pink and orange show-stopping dresses. There was no shortage of ruffles, feathers and intricate embroidering on each piece. The show culminated with a finale dress of layered tulle, reminiscent of "Swan Lake," pictured below.
Marc Jacobs
It's hard to discuss Fashion Week without talking about Marc Jacobs. The designer has been a significant force in the industry since the late 80’s with the emergence of his namesake line, in addition to having been the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton for 17 years. Jacobs always puts on a show for viewers; it's not only about the clothes, but the whole experience. This season’s theme was cinema set in the Zeigfeld Theater. The collection was unique as Jacobs always is, but he maintained the spirit and style that's made him such a success. The collection incorporated mixed plaids, stripes, embroidered satins, denim, bright reds, blues and patterns reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s pop art. While the collection may not be appealing to everyone and was certainly out there, the artistry and vision in Jacobs' work is undeniable.
Oscar de La Renta
Oscar de la Renta became well-known for his beautiful ball gowns when Jackie Kennedy began wearing his designs in the 1960’s . His death last year marked a huge loss for the fashion industry, but his legacy and company live on under the direction of Peter Copping, who presented his second collection as new Creative Director. Copping kept true to the quintessential “Oscar” style, drawing inspiration from his Hispanic routes with rich silks, ruffles and bright red tones. Spanish poppies were featured on many of the pieces and on espadrilles, which many of the models strutted down the runway in--a slight departure from the traditionally formal label. The collection featured varying dress silhouettes from body hugging to ball gown and lightly draped dresses, ending with a beautiful turquoise dress that would make Oscar proud.
Givenchy
Many people are dubbing him “The King of Fashion Week” and the most important designer of the event--Ricardo Tisci, the Creative Director of Givenchy, who celebrated his tenth year as the Head Designer for the haute couture label. The collection was presented on September 11th, under the theme of family and love to commemorate the 14th anniversary of 9/11. On a New York City rooftop with a view of One World Trade Center, models walked down the runway in a predominately black and white collection. The designs featured a lot of lace with a boudoir feel. Tisci is famous for his sensual and romantic clothing and this presentation was no different. All of the clothing had a very intimate aesthetic with the use of satin and transparent fabrics. Givenchy was at the helm of the pajama chic styling shown by many other designers this past week.
Alexander Wang
At just 31, Alexander Wang celebrated the tenth anniversary of his label with his newest collection. Wang is known for his edgy street style, and he didn't hold back in this spring collection. His designs featured a lot of fringe, leather pieces, stripes, crop tops and rich earth tones. The pieces had a chic moto flair with bomber jackets and denim. Wang presented a mix of textures with mesh and satin; he continued the trend of pajama-like clothing on the runway. He also debuted his first Men's collection with striped pants and tops, as well as leather touches. Wang came out at the end of the show smiling and jumping, acknowledging the creative genius he had just displayed.
After a whirlwind week of fashion, what does this mean for the regular people who aren’t going on net-a-porter to buy a $2,000 Alexander Wang dress? Fashion Week is a time for designers to showcase their creativity and major companies will take inspiration for them to make clothing for the masses. So while it is only Fall, trends to look out for in the spring are bows, the color red, fringe and “sleep chic”. Happy fashion season!
