Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Best of New York Fashion Week - AW 2012


     To me, New York Fashion Week brought wearability. There were some shows that pushed new ideas and unique concepts, but most were collections of beautiful clothes that I could see myself wearing this very second. There were predominant themes of tough outerwear, pants as the new skirts, and Oriental style. Marc Jacobs was the most talked about show of the week because he took everyone to a surreal wonderland of pilgrim-buckle shoes, floppy fur hats, and layers upon layers of thick imperial fabrics. When New York wasn't in a fantasy world, most collections stood out on the runway as clothing that could just as easily be seen on the street, making those the shows that really captured me. Bizarre and artsy weren't major players in NY this season, but just as fantastically, designers brought innovation to pieces that appeal to the everyday customer. Here's my ranking of the top 20 collections at NYFW...

1.       10 Crosby Derek Lam


The look: High-end Hipster
Key elements: peplum silhouettes, pleated leather skirt over printed dress, bellowy pants


2.       Christian Cota




The look: Artsy Navajo
Key elements: intricate and colorful patterns, captivating furs, perfect draping



3.       Alice + Olivia



The look: Uptown Socialite
Key elements: ombré colors, contrast patterns, powerful metallics


4.       Proenza Schouler



The look: Fencing Chic
Key elements: oriental brocade, rugged leather, bulky silhouettes


5.       Elie Tahari



The look: Woman About Town
Key elements: deep blues, every-occasion jackets, sleek pants


6.       Gregory Parkinson



The look: 1920s Bohemian
Key elements: patchwork-like prints, earth tones, pleats, deep purples and blues

7.       Nicole Miller



The look: Hippie in the City
Key elements: suede, vibrant patterns, floppy fedoras, velvet, florals, military-inspired


8.       Badgley Mischka



The look:  Glam Rocker
Key elements: velvet, metallics, strong shoulders, gothic detailing

9.       Betsey Johnson



The look: Every Decade From The 60s-90s
Key elements: big furs, bright colors, hyper patterns, metallics, mini-skirts, fedoras

10.   Marchesa



The look: Regal Fairy
Key elements: cap sleeved dresses, metallics, skeleton-embroidered tulle, knee-high caged sandals



11.   Prabal Gurung



The look: Extraterrestrial
Key elements: metallics, bright whites, shiny fabrics, cutout dresses,


12.   Michael Kors



The look: Ski Resort
Key elements: chunky sweaters, big furs, bold stripes and plaids, wool ponchos


13.   Charlotte Ronson



The look: New Age Schoolgirl
Key elements: earth tones, Navajo prints, bulky coats, fitted knitwear


14.   Carlos Miele



The look: Rio Cowgirl
Key elements: delicate gowns, cordobés hats, wool ponchos, bolero jackets

15.   Bibhu Mohapatra



The look: Minimal By Day, Imperial By Night
Key elements: intricate embroidery, big shoulders, quilted fur coats, ombré chiffon


16.   Naeem Khan



The look: Mumbai Princess
Key elements: long caftans, mosaic-like prints, beading, ribbon-cinched waistlines

17.   Nanette Lepore



The look: Girly Gypsy
Key elements: bright colors, peplum silhouettes, velvet pants, beaded curlicue print

18.   Mandy Coon



The look: Edgy Basics
Key elements: kaleidoscope print, calf-length dresses, pleats, contrast panels

19.   Calla



The look: Pattern Play
Key elements: granite and wood grain inspired prints, pastels paired with jewel tones, tweed motorcycle jackets
20.   Lyn Devon



The look: Lady-like Simplicity
The elements: clean lines, angora, bird patterned trousers, keyhole necklines


(photo credits: style.com)