Fashion
The Best of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013/2014
23:00This year I found myself utterly disappointed at the collections that showed at New York Fashion Week. As a fashion designer, you are meant to create fashion, not reinterpret another designer's work. Yes, designers do tend to resemble each other but designers should not copy, paste the work of other designers. While looking through all the collections showed at New York Fashion Week I could not help but feel like absolutely no effort was put into the design process. Have designers become lazy or do they think we can accept everything they make?
Below are the very few designers that stood out during New York Fashion Week.
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| Photo: Gianni Pucci/InDigitalimages.com |
Photos by GoRunway
Clean, simple and effortless. That should be the motto for Spring '14 and BCBG Max Azria has the wardrobe to go with it. If I am not mistaken, one can see that the collection takes inspiration from safari and military wear which was a strong influence in collections last year. Yes, the collection wasn't made up or dusty browns and military greens but the silhouettes remind one of the army or a trip through Africa. Seems as military and safari is the new staple of Spring.
Because of the safari and military influences, one would think that this collection is only fit for vacation. Surprisingly I would love to see women wear this collection to work. It is the collection for the modern working woman. The sleeveless grey coat is a favourite of mine and should make it's way into every woman's closet.
The best garment's in the collection are most definitely the print ones. Max Azria reinvented the use of floral print for spring. The use of sheer also made the collection a lot more romantic and keeps the collection up to date with London trends.
After the Spring '13 collections I no longer oppose wearing black during spring. The nice thing about BCBG Max Azria's black is that it looks light and wearable for any type of spring, American or African.
Max Azria put on a brilliant show that illustrates how women should dress during spring, day or night.
Photos by GoRunway
This year Wu created a collection centred around current trends. The '90s, safari and military silhouettes, as mentioned above are strong influences for Spring '14 and Jason flirted with each trend.
Like the '90s most garments were awkwardly paired together. The silhouettes were a bit strange but it worked.
To me the silhouettes were very slouchy but tailored at the same time. I think the structured details of each garment is what made it seem tailored.
If you have read several of my blog posts over the years you will know that I am a big fan of shine and shimmer. Because Wu did not use pop star shine, any woman can wear the shiner clothes everyday at any type of event. The pastel items were also a favourite, especially the safari inspired ones.
Most see the '90s as very structured and boxy but Jason Wu proved with his reinvention of the '90s that they can be beautiful, romantic and soft.
Photos by GoRunway
A designer that went against current trends is Monique Lhuillier. Instead of giving us boxy '90s inspired silhouettes, she made spring romantic once again.
White seems to be the new unspoken trend runway. Most if not all shows have white garments and Lhuillier is one of the designers that make it seem necessary to have an all white outfit. Paired with hints of sheer, the white garments flow effortlessly on the runway and appear very light.
Like Jason Wu, there are also hints of shine and shimmer in this collection. They are not overwhelming which means women can wear the gowns without feeling like they need to perform on stage.
The two-piece outfits are not my favourite as they promote colour-blocking, a trend which belongs in the past. However I would wear them as separates.
I really appreciate the attention to detail Monique has put in her collection. New York Fashion Week this year is very bland because of the '90s inspiration so it is nice to see someone go the extra mile in making an outfit beautiful.
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| Photo: Gianni Pucci/Indigitalimages.com |
Photos by GoRunway
Another designer who does not care about the '90s is Zac Posen. Staying true to his aesthetic, Posen created a collection that illustrates femininity and delicateness.
Going through the various looks it also seems as if this is what Alice, from Alice in Wonderland would wear in this day and age. The collection seems like it was made for a woman who will be attending various garden and tea parties.
All the models have flowers in their hair and flowers also make up some of the print used on the fabric. Like BCBG Max Azria, Posen did not use the typical spring floral print we are used to seeing in retail stores.
The pleats, knots, ruffles and various fabric detailing make it more Disney Princess than Alice in Wonderland and in a time where '90s inspired clothing is all the rave, I am not complaining.
The collection was not based on Alice in Wonderland but rather on Sarah Bernhardt in the 1911 French film La Dame aux Camélias.
I absolutely love this collection because Zac Posen stayed true to himself. Yes every now and then we would like to see how designers interpret various trends but I would rather see a designer make beautiful clothes than to create a collection influenced by an unflattering trend.
Photos by GoRunway
Definitely not the most creative collection but that does not mean it wasn't beautiful. I think one of the reasons I was drawn to this collection was because it represents a strong powerful woman who knows how to dress for every occasion.
There are various hints of romanticism in the collection which makes this woman a bit softer but the romanticism is paired with leather and black.
The American designer made use of various asymmetrical silhouettes and used gold, black, white and prints to create his collection.
In terms of trends we saw hints of the '90s trend, hints of safari and the '20s and some monochromatic looks which were big last season. Rucci also used sheer which was a big trend last year at London Fashion Week.
The sequinned dresses were a favourite of mine and so were the various print garments.
All in all this was a beautiful collection which and there is a clear representation of what kind of woman would wear each garment.
I definitely suggest that you look at all pieces from the collection to understand why it was such a beautiful show.
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