New York Fashion Week Off To a Roaring Start
Weather in New York City in February can be unpredictable at best. It can be in the teens Fahrenheit and snowing amidst a blizzard worthy of such a moniker as “Snowmageddon,” or 70 and sunny — sometimes within the span of the same week. But the forecast for New York Fashion Week is always a sure thing: hot, hot, and hotter — shame on anyone for expecting anything else.
New York is one of the “Big 4” fashion weeks for a reason, and the first day of the largest celebration of all things beautiful in the Western Hemisphere lived up to its billing with a bevy of names that sometimes only need first ones. Fur was ready to fly as BCBGMAXAZRIA began things with a show that was as much about pushing creative boundaries as it was offering practical tips for how to dress when planning to cross Antarctica on foot. Fur in muted colors dominated, the outfits so large they completely swallowed up the svelte models wearing them. Though entertaining to see, and eliciting enthusiastic applause from the audience, somehow the collection felt unfulfilled, like a basketball team with high expectations that ultimately comes up short of a championship (in other words, local NBA teams the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets).
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
The fur trend continued with Nicholas K’s fur accessories complementing deeply cut blouses that made one feel both hot and cold at the same moment. Models also wore pants that were so low-cut they were slung below the hips, a look more commonly associated with the sagging pants trend popular among young men in urban areas. The fact no one’s pants fell down was nothing short of a miracle.
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
Of course, the runway was but one element of the spectacle taking place. This being New York and it being Fashion Week, the stars were out in numbers to rival the television viewership of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Sochi, Russia. Joe Jonas, Alyssa Milano, True Blood’s Carrie Preston, Twilight’s Andrea Powell, Bryanboy, Nigel Barker, Zachary Quinto, Lynn Yaeger and Karolina Kurková all showed up on day one. For reasons humanity may perhaps never fathom, Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle was front row in a red bow tie. Readers take heart: if Jared of all people can get into the front row, so too can you.
Days two and three brought more big names to the runway, from the designers themselves to their guests. Rag & Bone, Derek Lam, Christian Siriano, Victoria Beckham, Prabal Gurung, Jill Stuart and more, attracted names like Anna Kendrick, Stacy Martin, Jamie Chung, and none other than Vogue editor Anna Wintour herself. Pity the people who had to figure out seating charts.
Aussie label Zimmermann — headed by design pair Nicky and Simone Zimmermann — doubled down on edgy-mesh and ladylike lace for their lengthy dresses, with models sporting Edwardian hairstyles. Zimmermann — normally better-known for resort wear and swimwear — had the Lincoln Center crowd roaring, with bright hues and cuts that tested the limits of clothing and 23rd century dystopian loungewear. It was that forward-looking.
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
Rebecca Minkoff was another bright spot, despite the uber-dark lipstick models sported that were reminiscent of singer Lorde or a Goth fantasy. Minkoff may be fairly new to NYFW — her first show was in 2011 — but she put on an uproariously fun show. Celebrities like Carrie Underwood and Victoria Justice to fashion bloggers Leandra Medine and Chiara Ferragni sat in the front row, as the sounds of British electro-pop duo AlunaGeorge serenaded attendees. Minkoff’s collection itself was a feminine take on menswear classics: tailored coats, soft button-downs, lamé dresses and chiffon skirts were constructed from neutral tones and simple plaid and striped prints. There were also fur-trimmed satchels, belt bags, furry beanies and plenty of knee-length boots. Many of the looks were admittedly rather shapeless, but seemed like they’d be fine for a day lounging about at home. It’s always a good time to look pretty — even if the day’s most exciting adventure involves a trip downstairs to the refrigerator.
A collection that looked as if it was raided from the wardrobe of Charlize Theron’s deliciously wicked evil queen in Snow White and the Huntsman — or Darth Vader’s sister — seemed to be the theme of Herve Leger, a show which also attracted Coco Rocha and Petra Němcová to sit front row. The official theme was “wild and untamed,” and wild — and certainly untamed — it was. The bandage dress was front and center, in colors that would make a coal mine seem bright. There were cage-like corsets and harnesses at work, as well as a plethora of cut-outs, pleats, shredded hems, feather-accented separates and leather and fur outerwear. Thigh-high boots were the preferred accessory, and tight ponytails with streaks of blue, orange and pink, high-shine lips and dramatic eyes complemented each look. The takeaway: being bad never looked so good.
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
Video Courtesy of: New York Fashion Week.
Brazilian designer Alessandra Meskita offered a pleasant surprise on day four, showcasing a collection inspired by the 100-year anniversary of Beverly Hills and the year of the horse from the Chinese zodiac that she said is meant to be worn by “women who travel.” In a departure of the darker hues that dominated many earlier designers’ collections, Meskita’s designs came in royal blues, burgundies, pinks and icy whites. Sleek lines and functional fabrics were favored, with the textile of choice being neoprene. The collection may not have been necessarily daring, but it was just well-designed and technically solid enough to mark Meskita as a rising fashion star.
Four days down, four to go. New York Fashion Week is as big as ever. The only question that remains is, is the Big Apple big enough to handle the rest of this famously flamboyant fashion fete?
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Featured image: A model walks the runway at the Herve Leger by Max Azria fashion show. Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
