Metro’s style reporters Kenya Hunt and Tina Chadha took in the
scene this weekend at New York Fashion Week. Which looks did they love?
Find out below:
1. Zac Posen
The terrace at Avery Fisher Hall at twilight was the perfect setting to showcase Zac Posen’s return to NYFW (the designer took his show to Paris the past two seasons). Beautiful and skillfully constructed cocktail dresses and evening gowns cinched the waistline and celebrated — if not flaunted — a woman’s curves. The models’ slow, hip-swinging walk heightened the drama of it all. There were glamorous mermaid shapes, structured corsets and dramatic trains. Watching the girls appear in these fantastical gowns felt like being in a princess’s salon before a grand ball, or the opera scene of “Pretty Woman.” No one will forget a woman who wears one of these. – Tina Chadha
2. Edun
Edun’s spring collection had a strong focus on African prints, but the looks felt surprisingly modern thanks to designer Sharon Wauchob’s laid-back, wearable separates and her clever mix of floral prints with the traditional patterns. Her slouchy drawstring pants, sheer shirts, strapped dresses and halters in ethnic prints would work just as well for drinks downtown as on a beach resort. Another stand out: the cool cropped jackets. – Tina Chadha
3. Monique Lhuillier
Shaking off her reputation as a go-to designer for just bridal gowns, Monique Lhuillier showed sleek, sporty looks that ranged from sexy separates in cobalt blue and black to modern floor-length stunners with bondage-esque leather detailing to sweaters and jackets with lace paneling. Of course, the lady knows how to make glamorous gowns and didn’t disappoint with the closing series, which we’re sure we’ll be seeing on the red carpet soon enough. – Tina Chadha
4. Tommy Hilfiger
“The pop of color.” In fashion it has got to be one of the most used phrases of the year. But in Hilfiger’s show, titled Pop Prep, the color looked fresh and upbeat. How much more fun and interesting would the office be if everyone ditched the black and gray suits for his blue and pink Prince of Wales check suit? It’s also nice to see Hilfiger moving his concept of preppy into an edgier, more fashion forward place. Case in point: his covetable series of leather shirt dresses, jackets and skirts in marigold and olive green. – Kenya Hunt
5. Tracy Reese
An eternal romantic, Reese set out to “embody the relaxed mood of the season,” through pretty, girly dresses, skirts and jumpsuits in a variety of vintage shapes. During some moments, her clothes, such as a lean, maxi skirt with lace insets, and bow-embellished striped tee, brought to mind a summer holiday in 1930s South of France. Other looks, such as a billowing floral printed blouse and blue leather shorts, felt completely now. – Kenya Hunt
6. Jenny Packham
Her large following of celebrity fans will find plenty of red carpet dresses to keep the E! correspondents talking. Her silk chiffon, chantilly lace and tulle creations were glamorous in a dramatic, boudoir-chic kind of way — the lightest, most ethereal fabrics merged with high wattage crystal and beaded embellishments. – Kenya Hunt
7. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
A wearable, yet highly creative collection of beautifully executed dresses and separates in watercolor yellows, blues, greens and pinks left editors and actress Marisa Tomei gushing after the Preen show. The beauty is that Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi managed to turn traditionally girly elements (ruffle flourishes, sequins, the color pink) into something that looked totally modern, sophisticated and cool. For all of you who have been balking at the idea of wearing pink, this collection proves that it is, in fact, possible for the color to look sophisticated. – Kenya Hunt
8. Donna Karan
A year of traveling to Haiti inspired Donna Karan’s striking collection of body-skimming dresses, swingy circle skirts and trim jackets. The work was artful, featuring earthy tribal prints and brass and wood embellishments in the spirit of the artist Philippe Dodard. It also oozed sex in the most visceral way. Wyclef Jean, who sat front row, approved. – Kenya Hunt
9. Diane von Furstenberg
In the sea of prints that New York Fashion Week has become, Diane von Furstenberg’s (unsurprisingly) stood out. They came in soft pastels or pops of blue, yellow and orange (another recurring theme this week). The best moments were the unexpected, tomboyish ones such as a pair of checked shorts in lime and maroon paired with a neon green button down shirt, maroon blazer and graphic loafers. It made a refreshing contrast to her trademark feminine dresses. – Kenya Hunt
