Fashion Week 1

photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

I set my sights on New York City, where Spring Fashion Week ended Friday. Today and next week, I’ll offer my take on the trends and versatile looks from America’s hottest designers.

Friday, Feb. 13
Day shows: Heart Truth/Red Dress, Jason Wu, Charlotte Ronson, BCBG
Night shows: Rag & Bone, Nicole Miller

Charlotte Ronson:
Although Charlotte Ronson’s collection is anything but couture, I do love her incredibly wearable style. Ronson’s Fall 2009 collection is all about rock and roll, stonewash, and grunge. To hone her style, mix florals with studded belts and biker jackets or worn-out plaids with leather leggings. Just when I thought I was sick of the plaid invasion, she designed a diverse ensemble with an old pattern that truly keeps on keeping on.
Final notes—over-the-knee, badass, studded boots truly can be worn with anything: fancy frocks turn edgy, skinny jeans become more pronounced.
Interesting twist: her one-shouldered shirt complete with a shoulder pad grabs attention—power 80s on one side, sleek and sexy sophisticate on the other.

Nicole Miller:
Nicole Miller’s show screamed New York City. She is known for her flattering, structured dresses in monochromatic, timeless colors like black, grey, red, and blue; however, Miller stepped up her design by adding unique textures, patterns, and details to her garments. Geometric patterns filled the fronts of mini-dresses, and a modern-bondage look came through on her black dresses with deep red, crisscross shoulder straps. Pieces designed by Nicole Miller span age groups; an 18 year old could wear one of her funky dresses, along with a hot 38 year-old mom. Her designs for Fall 2009 have little need for accessorizing—most of her black hemlines look fabulous with a pair of dark stockings and bold heels.
Interesting twist—Miller added a more natural, yet still graphic pattern to her collection. She utilized spider-web designs on her blouses and skirts which added detail and youth.

Saturday, Feb. 14
Day shows: Lacoste, Adam Lippes, Barbie
Night shows: Alexander Wang, Verrier

Barbie:
When Barbie turns 50, Ken lays down the big bucks, while she breaks in her custom-dyed, pink Christian Louboutins—on the runway at Bryant Park, where else?
Mattel, Mercedes-Benz, and nearly every hot designer in town contributed to this show. 50 models showed off a Barbie-wardrobe, clothing from decades back to years in the future. The key to their success? Mixing the old with the new—and no slacking on the details! Up-and-coming designers created Barbie’s looks, as well as more established designers like Michael Kors and Alexander Wang. I have always supported a wardrobe with a wide range of clothing pieces—despite their diversities and their different generations, when assembled they created an ensemble that is just so.
Last but not least? Make-up and fabulous hair. Each Barbie model had unique style—a turban or Bettie Page bangs, make-up mastered by Charlotte Tilbury, and individual, stand-out details (think feathered eyebrows!). Plus everyone knows, no Barbie is complete without her Ken—although, if all else fails, at least she has her Louboutins…

Alexander Wang:
Alexander Wang’s Fall 2009 collection is hot, plain and simple. His wardrobe staple? Super-sleek black leggings. Most pieces in his collection were little black dresses, black blazers, black tops—but with pazazz. Pieces held the female form, yet included details: draped fabric, studded shoulders, cut outs, and unique sleeves. Everything is beautifully tailored. Pieces could easily be layered with his broad-shouldered jackets and of course, his black leggings, short or long.

Sunday, Feb. 15
Day Shows: Lela Rose, DKNY, Herve Leger, Diane Von Furstenberg
Night shows: Erin Fetherston, Miss Sixty

Lela Rose:
Lela Rose has an amazing ability to create substantial pieces of clothing, yet they are never cumbersome and always ladylike. Rose’s fall collection feels whimsical and airy—her soft color palette pleases the eye, and her collection features feminine pieces in green, blue-grey, purple, and gold (for a hint of shimmer). Rose also mixed her soft tulles with much different fabrics, like tweed, to add more texture to an outfit.
Another great element about Lela Rose’s collection? Her models wore pumps from her Payless Shoe Source collection. A little high-end design for a more affordable price!

Miss Sixty:
To wear Miss Sixty, a lot of confidence is required. The Fall 2009 offerings are bold, perfect for those with a quirky style or a daredevil attitude: 80s acid wash jeans, printed leggings, and jacket patterns that resemble magazine ads sewn together—but that’s not all—faux fur, leopard print jersey, and corset-belts came all jumbled on top! Despite these wild ensembles and their visual effect as a whole, when worn sparingly Miss Sixty’s fall pieces may be just the right medicine to complete an utterly boring outfit. Lesson learned? Don’t destroy your unique wardrobe finds by wearing them all at once—resulting in a horrible outfit entirely—rather, read the disclaimer: Use Miss Sixty sparingly.

Monday, Feb. 16
Day Shows: Carolina Herrera, Jill Stuart, Donna Karan, Betsey Johnson
Night Shows: Cynthia Rowley, Tahari, William Rast, Marc Jacobs

Jill Stuart:
The concept of strong women—capable and female—truly inspired Jill Stuart’s 2009 Fall Collection. The classic combination of black and white worn by models at the beginning of her show almost seemed to set boundaries—as if to say, ‘Ladies, here is your forever outfit, but right now you can play.’ Models then wore dresses and color, flowers and lace, leather jackets and sweaters. Jill Stuart’s collection is an excellent example of eclecticism, individuality, and personal style. Some of the outfits worn on the runway were transferred to street-wear by the simple addition of a more downtown blazer or a great pair of boots.

William Rast:
Justin Timberlake, Trace Ayala, and Macella and Johan Lindeberg all pooled together for the Fall 2009 William Rast collection; still, with all those creative minds, the show was received as a bit of a dud. At first, as I looked through the slideshow I thought, “cute,” and okay, “wearable,” and then…”boring.” But—I did recognize the importance of owning some time-tested, always-in-style, key wardrobe pieces that usually save you from fashion disasters—they certainly saved William Rast. For example, for men, a great plaid shirt and a leather jacket fits in and stands out almost everywhere.
Too much? 80s Shoulder- pads in everything—even t-shirts!
Shhh: I must admit, I was sweet on the fringe denim mini skirts, worn just right with an American flag t-shirt.