It’s the second week of September, and that can only mean one thing: fashion week is in full swing. From September 5th through 13th, some of the most ingenious and distinctive designers traipsed all over New York City. Designers ranging from the iconic Diane von Fürstenberg to the ever edgy collaborators David Neville and Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone eagerly unveiled their Spring 2013 collections to the public.
The ironically backward tradition of the fashion forward to display spring/summer collections at the advent of the fall season, and vice versa, leaves many of us already feeling nostalgic and anticipating next year’s breezy, warmer days of sun, and all the dressing down that comes with it. “The Marc” by Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2013 runway teased fashion lovers with its vibrantly youthful theme. Jacobs features a collision of patterns and spicy headpieces reminiscent of the uniforms necessary for jet-setters escaping to paradise. On an entirely different end of the spectrum, Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy Spring/Summer 2013 showing was driven by more structured, armor-like ensembles. The Mulleavy sisters built pieces that were much closer to fixtures in a museum or works of very intricate origami, with many patterns and textured skirts, as well as geometric tops sometimes arranged in such a way that they would overwhelm just as much as they would awe. Still, it’s impossible to deny the incredible craftsmanship and extensive detail that went into sculpting every piece.
Arguably one of the softest and most ethereal collections of the spring/summer 2013 showing was Mark Badgley and James Mischka’s collection.
The talented duo’s whimsical dresses and elegant suit tops and skirts featured a healthy dose of gold and silver metallic brocade, gemstone accents and lustrous tweed.. The predominantly pastel and cream color palette, while by no means a groundbreaking development for spring/summer, only added to the demureness of this line. The cream-colored pieces present in next season’s line will most likely be the remnants of this fall fashion season’s reign of white.
For fall/winter 2012, CoCo Chanel would certainly be happy to hear that more and more designers are encouraging the prevalence of white. After all, who really knows why they say we can’t wear white after Labor Day?
Labels from Alexander Wang to Proenza Schouler to the Row touted fun new versions of winter white staples such as sleek trousers, simultaneously sexy and classy Little White Dresses (get ready to start neglecting those LBDs, girls) and sheer angelic blouses.
The elegant can be turned badass by switching from white to black leather pieces for fall/winter. Black leather is no longer restricted to the classic motorcycle jacket (a timeless go-to for fall), but has now pervaded dresses and skirts such as Calvin Klein’s pleated leather skirts and leather-paneled dresses.
Another rather difficult trend for even your average fashionist of this fall/winter season is the advent of the hunting gear style.
Designers are pushing for all American, outdoorsy plaid, furs and knit tweeds. While this trend can give off a cozy, homey vibe, one should be careful to steer clear of too-loud red and blinding-orange boxy plaids, such as some of the ones featured in Thakoon’s Fall/Winter 2012 line.
Girls are getting a touch tougher and more masculine in their wardrobes this summer with designers embodying outdoorsy, more militaristic motifs. As a final thought to the prominent trends for fall/winter wardrobes this year: think grandma.
Ladies are embracing the older dames within themselves by incorporating streamlined trousers and pants rather than staid old jeans.
Accented collars, collars peeping out over sweaters, as well as tweed or more tailored blazers, as seen in the Ralph Lauren collection, allow for a more sophisticated, collected look for the coming autumn days.
Whatever fall trend you choose to take from the runway to the Breezeway, don’t forget to experiment and add your own individual flair to it.
