Lindon Chen
Photographer
From the sleek minimalism of Calvin Klein, to the lively nostalgic knits of “Marc” by Marc Jacobs, this season’s collections were astounding at New York Fashion Week.
Fortunately, the fashion industry did not get swept from the face of the earth by the economic hurricane, allowing collections to avoid recession themes and do their best in terms of materials, inspirations and presentations.
Hundreds of shoppers lined up around the block for Fashion’s Night Out, a haven for cosmopolitan clothing buyers, proving that the industry is thriving.
The season’s variety of colors was far from the stereotypical spring fuchsia and bright Kelly green. Francisco Costa, this season’s designer of Calvin Klein, has instead sewn form-fitting dresses in organic shapes to accentuate a woman’s body with serenity and minimalism in varied shades of grey. The dresses are simple and natural, reminiscent of primitive forms, and flow with human movements.
“Marc” by Marc Jacobs would have won the prize for pattern usage had there been one. The collection successfully blended the cultures of the Aztec and the Scottish into one pattern, a lively style from the island of Fair Isle. His ability to mix seemingly clashing patterns is remarkable. The collection has a ton of energy; it is playful, yet mature.
Another line that perfects a sense of ethnics was that of Rodarte, who tattooed the models’ arms in a tribal fashion. The draping and wrapping in the collection is futuristic and ferociously imaginative. They are constructed from contrasting fabrics that looked like ripped shirts from opposite ends of the world.
The fabric seems to emerge from the center of the torso for a cool effect. Savvy consumers should be sure to check out Rodarte’s collaboration with Target on Dec. 22.
Oscar de la Renta’s collection is incredibly classy. His collection is very wearable; there is nothing avant-garde, but there is definitely clothing a person could buy directly from a store. It is the quintessential “ready-to-wear” collection. He combines vivid colors, tailored silhouettes and floppy hats to look beautiful on any woman.
An essential line to shop this season is Christopher Kane for Topshop. The collection is very reasonably priced (from $60 to $300), and the looks are very edgy and innovative. The leggings, shoes and dresses feature eyelets, and the print shirts were crocodile-themed. Be sure to log onto Topshop.com to see and shop the collection online.
The overlying theme for this season’s collection was extremely apparent. The designers’ collections all shows a desire for escape from financial problems. It may just be the eye of the economic hurricane, but everyone wants to get out of the storm.
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