Day 6 is a BIG Day
by SaraIt’s a busy day in New York today – TONS of big name, marvelous designers are scheduled to send their looks down the runway. Woo!
Tibi
I am so happy that I can finally jump on the Tibi train. The tribal direction they’ve been going in for the past few seasons was just not me; I accepted it, but was still sad about missing out on all the rage. Finally, lead designer Amy Smilovic announced that for Spring 2010 she just wanted something “light and clean” – and that’s exactly what she did. Fresh colors in breezy bias-cut fabrics floated down the runway, while daintily-placed pretty floral patterns and structured shoulders added drama. Peg-leg pants, skirts, dresses, blouses…she had it all. I’m still not a fan of the miu-miu sack dresses that hit below your knee; that seems to be a big thing with designers this season. Poo.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: Tibi still put forth TONS of girly and fun dresses that are sure to have sorority girls all over the country swooning. But the real lesson to take away from Tibi is how to look effortlessly put together through bright pops of color and chic, easy pieces. Sometimes the surefire way to look like the best-dressed person in town is to just keep it simple and classy.
Betsey Johnson
Oh, Betsey. We can always count on you for some crazy tulle, animal patterns and skyscraper shoes! This year – perhaps due to her uptown move – we still had the traditional Betsey craziness, but it was a bit more…refined? There were still the 50s big-skirt dresses, fluffy tiers of ruffles and WOW patterns, but the calming down came into play with the more slim and minimal silhouettes than I can ever recall. Simple – yes simple – cotton dresses and even a Betsey twist on a skirt suit danced down the runway. That’s not to say it wasn’t the normal Betsey rockin’ party…but she’s definitely toned it down just a little bit for spring.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: It seems to be all about legs this spring. Just to mix up your silhouette a bit, try getting a snug patterned minidress with longer sleeves, like this! It’s so much more feminine and flirty than just a pair of shorts and long sleeve shirt.
Marc by Marc Jacobs
I GOT it this time! I LOVED it this time! At his show yesterday, all the New York big-time fashion journalists loved Marc Jacobs’ “be an individual” look, while I (in a Southern state of mind as opposed to a New York one) just couldn’t even comprehend how somebody with any taste could “love” the actual pieces. Today, in his Marc collection, Marc Jacobs continued with the express yourself theme, and it was superb; I smiled the whole time. Again, it was wacky and some might not get it, but to me the crazy polka dotted shoulder padded shirts and striped a-line skirts with an oversized bow hair accessory was modern and fun and fantastic. Thank you Marc, for reigniting my love for your cuh-razy ways.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: Marc Jacobs is a fashion risk taker. So while his designed looks as a whole may cause the casual viewer to immediately dispel any thought of wearing the outfit, you just have to know to look at the pieces; take it apart, make it your own. There should be at least one component to every single look that you could incorporate into your wardrobe to give it a funky fresh new feel. Like this shirt: I don’t love it paired with the bulky skirt, but the contrasting colors and polka dots are adorable. So I take the blouse, pair it with a deep green cardigan and cream shorts and voila! I’ve mixed a little bit of zany Jacobs with a little bit of preppy feminine Sara. It’s the same concept as his other show…do you get it yet? Now your turn – fashion is all about fun and experimentation. No limits!
Max Azria
After seeing Mr. Azria’s third show of the week, this time his namesake label, it is easy to see that he is quite enthralled with slits in fabrics and geometric patterns, as these things have showed up in all of his shows. This go-round into the aesthetic of deconstruction was a bit more sophisticated, with simpler silhouettes and details, but the connection is still there. Myself, I am not too fond of this rip craze…this particular collection looked as though he just took some scissors and at random chose places to snip away. That being said, everything truly is very well made, and I can pick out the ones that celebs and stylists alike will fight over.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: If you’re going to jump on the slitted clothing trend, you have GOT to splurge and get the good stuff. Go Max Azria, not Charlotte Russe. That’s the only way you’re going to get something that looks deliberate and fashion-forward; as opposed to done at home art project gone wrong. And you will definitely need to balance it out with something super conservative or simple: like dark wash jeans with a top, or sleek and streamlined jewelry for a dress. TREAD CAREFULLY!
Brian Reyes
Brian Reyes has long been able to balance two opposite demographics: the youthful social butterfly and the mature social butterfly. This collection was no different. It was easy and well-put together, giving some maturity to the young crowd and some youthfulness to their older counterparts. There were thin tops with ink blots, tailored shorts, a maxi dress and a few tops with tiny bubble patterns, and even a little bit of lingerie (rarr!). Reyes also beautifully dressed up denim, intricately ruffling it in skirts and expertly constructing it in higher waist shorts. There was even a pretty cool denim dress colored in a busy tattoo-like pattern – a pattern that turned up in many other looser tops and dresses.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: Let’s tackle the dressed-up denim, because we walk a fine between 1990s middle schooler to modern fashionista there. Choose darker colors in tailored styles – absolutely nothing worn looking or acid wash. And no overalls. But to add some edge to your look, try to go with one of those denim mini dresses; but it’s going to have to fit like a glove and be smartly and modernly accessorized, so tread carefully!
Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka got its start with their signature “Old Hollywood” gowns, and have slowly added sleek sportswear to the mix. While there were some breathtaking formal dresses that are sure to be seen at premieres and awards shows this next year (pretty sure this was made for Angelina Jolie…and I want someplace to wear this…), my favorites in their Spring 2010 show were almost all the day looks; still nostalgically 1930s with a modern edge. I loved the loose-yet-stiff, almost kimono-like tops that were given shape with belts – appropriate for work and play! There were grown-up grays, chic whites, sassy reds and Barbie pinks…enough pops of color to add interest to any wardrobe.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: Again, the jackets! Spring can bring such fickle weather, and how easy to just throw on one of these fantastic extra tops? If you’re in the market for a nicer cocktail dress, grab one in white and accessorize with colorful jewelry; I also love the mini-tiered-ruffle technique. It adds such interest to an otherwise simple silhouette. Ditch the long dresses with sheer fabric only from the knee-down…what IS that?
Vera Wang
I wasn’t used to the lack of color in the Vera Wang show! It was definitely still her though, in the silhouettes and artsy inspirations – just with an eerily whimsical. Let’s call it Gothic Romance. Dirty ghost whites, haunting blacks and gothic purple flowers in swirling fabrics were draped into dresses, pantsuits and oversized tunics, then accessorized with heavy (HUGE!) necklaces and, in some cases, tulle. The more I looked at it, the more I actually liked it. Some of it was a bit blah for my taste, an example being the all black almost waiter-esque pants and matching droopy tops.
RUNWAY TO REAL WAY: I know I’ve been preaching color, color, color this week, but I think it would add such a contrast touch to a wardrobe to throw in a few of these haunting whites and purples. They’re still so feminine, just with a chic, “I’m-so-cool” touch. The flowing chiffons flatter every body type. Also grab some hot shoes like the bandage-satin-bows heels here. Ditch the shag accessories…why did you do it, Vera and Zac?! NO SHAG!
