New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is officially a wrap (I can breathe again, thank goodness). Of course, the true jetsetters are already in London and moving on to Milan later in the week. The circus caravan has relocated, but not without making some lasting impressions on my little peepers, which caught around 30 fashion shows. After clearing my brain of all the din, I have compiled a list of the good, the bad and — most important for a college student — the wearable trends and collections for fall 2012.
The Good: The runway trends this season were much to my taste for fall: less black, splashes of cobalt blue, sexy cutouts on dresses and pants, winter whites and fur, fur, fur.
A perennial commercial success, BCBG showed silky, airy dresses and separates with a healthy infusion of color — notably bright blue. Though the geometric lines evoked a Mondrian painting, the overall result was smart and chic.
If you thought cutouts were just for ASOS and Urban Outfitters, think again. Cushnie et Ochs whipped up nude numbers with seductively placed cutouts at the collarbone and artful slashes at the waist. Naheem Khan, better known for his separates and bright colors, showed black, column-straight, floor-length dresses with a few dramatic cutouts that had showgoers wondering how the dresses stayed on.
PETA would have had a field day at many of the fall shows, as they were infused — often not subtly — with fur. Vera Wang showed fur hoods and capelets with biker shorts, while Carolina Herrera, the queen of the crisp white shirt, turned out a skirt trimmed with goat's hair and ostrich feathers. St. John kept it comparatively PC with faux ocelot sweatshirts and relaxed oversized faux fur hobos.
The Bad: I appreciate Marc Jacobs for his creative genius (merci for revamping Louis V. into more than monograms), but this collection was theatrical in the worst way. The hats recalled the Mad Hatter, and the models could barely see from underneath their wide brims. Not to mention the ensemble's pilgrim-buckle shoes and awkward mid-shin length pants. I should have liked the collection, but I unapologetically didn't.
Another no-no: the Charlotte Ronson show. Though her front row is always jammed with pretty young things, the clothes were anything but. Her collection was Americana with the prairie-girl-cum-Navajo fusion of chiffon printed dresses paired with white tights (not flattering) and chunky, earth-colored knits with bursts of neon in the pattern. There's nothing groundbreaking about the construction of her clothes, and her collection was not cohesive.
The Wearable: J.Crew seems obvious, but it's obvious for a reason: Creative director Jenna Lyons is a freaking genius. She does color like nobody's business, and the price points (maybe on sale) are perfect for a college student. Her presentation at Lincoln Center showed modern tailoring for a working woman who possesses style, confidence and some irony.
Kate Spade took a cheeky nod from French girls this year. Quality is paramount in accessories and has been carried over into clothes, which were a mod mix of London and Paris, replete with bright reds, emerald greens and mustard yellows. "Pardon My French" was etched into the metal frame of a handbag; for someone who loves attention to detail, this is the perfect new purse to pick up.
Fashion Week is a whirlwind, mostly because more than 300 designers show in eight days. The more I attend shows, the more I realize that there are people who drain their coffers for clothes that are not extraordinary enough in concept or construction to merit a show. Thankfully, I was stunned by a number of other garments that looked creative and simply chic. Hopefully, you'll be able to use this rundown to navigate the waters of travesty and tremendous for your next stylish outfit.
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Elizabeth Landers is a junior majoring in political science. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Landers@tufts.edu.
