Fashion month is upon us! This time last year we were prepping our stalking skills for Paris and Milan to follow and observe the fashion folk in the chaotic fashion week habitat. (Learn more about our fashion week tips here.) While we are still observing from afar, we wanted to chime in on what we loved about the New York Spring/Summer '18 collections.
In our opinion, this fashion week stood out in such a good way. Designers really presented their aesthetic while also bringing some newness and excitement. Alexander Wang showed his usual "cool-girl" vibe clothes, but this time with deconstructed elements and a nod to streetwear (his collection was in fact shown in the street). Another striking thing about these collections, denim is still HUGE! Chromat, Adam Selman, and Monse all incorporated denim pieces. Another trend to note, color! Calvin Klein and new designer on the block, Area, used beautiful and interesting color combinations in their collections. While there were so many high points at this fashion week, check out our favorite NYFW collections below:
(Make sure to read the commentary in the slideshows!)
Sooo different but also so similar to the last collection they put out. The same deconstructed and "slung-off-the-shoulder"styles, but this time it is injected with some fun and sportiness. I see no problem when a designer chooses to show similar styles in another collection as long as they find a way to make it new, and Monse did it here. The sportiness seemed a little reminiscent of Tommy Hilfiger's Fall 2015 collection, but with more style and refinement.
Perfectly cohesive with a dose of contrasting elements, Zimmerman showed their usual standout dresses, with a twist. All models strutted down the runway with perfectly crisp white sneakers, giving us all hope that we don't have to strictly wear heels with these types of dresses. The patterns and colors were beautiful for Spring (groundbreaking, I know) but you always need a floral dress, right? The shoulders were dramatic: puffed sleeves or off-the-shoulder and these really are dresses that girls want to wear when they want to look uber feminine. The styling was on-point to make this a fresh take on their aesthetic (fanny packs, sneakers, asymmetric earrings). However, the hair fell a little flat. It should've been sleek and slicked back, or dramatic big curls.
Really some standout pieces in his collection and kudos to him for being politically and socially aware of the things going on in the world right now. (To open the show he "began with the Activist's Prayer: 'Grant me the strength to change the things I cannot accept.'” via vogue.com) A cohesive collection? Not really. But does it always have to be? He showed structured jackets, flowing dresses, cool shorts etc. We found that it seemed to be multiple mini-collections all in one, each linked in some way. He began with Gigi Hadid wearing a sharp blazer with white shorts, following with some bright colors and and structured dresses. Then continuing the structure in jewel toned dresses, rib knits and introducing some plaid. He finished the show in flowing dresses with cool cutouts and hints of floral print. What we really enjoyed about the collection was the ease of the outfits. They didn't seem too put together (especially with the lack of cohesiveness compared to a collection like Zimmerman) which made it so cool. The outfits seemed to be across the board but they are pieces that would fit a variety of girls. The dramatic blazer and structured short combo is something we want to try in the spring (or even now in transitional weather). This was a fashion-forward but also really wearable collection and it inspires us to elevate our casual wardrobe.
Adam Selman first caught my attention last NYFW with his brilliant denim pieces, unique suits (really want to copy this look) , and artful layering. For spring he incorporated some more denim (my kinda guy), whimsical add-ons like feathers and floral prints, and new ways to wear a suit. I love how he has a distinct style and ease about his clothes and finds new ways to add fun details. Another thing I love that he did again this collection is layering longer jackets, dusters, or even a skirt over shorts. The contrast of long vs short is a new (and more fashionable) take on the high-low hems we've seen before.
So. Much. Layering. And we loved it! Unique and fun and so many imaginative ways to wear pretty clothes. It is the 25th anniversary of her brand and she dug into her archives to create a standout collection full of prints, volume, lace, pink, and black. It really is the cool girl take on romanticism and not your average granny florals.
Honorable mention: Victoria Beckham- her fabrics choices were so beautiful and the clothes are perfect for a working woman. She knows how to elevate basics and incorporate menswear.