If the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 is anything to go by, the coming season sure is set to be exciting. Bold prints and patterns dominated the collections seen on the runway. It was interesting to see a number of designers invoke the classic eras gone by. Marc Jacobs channelled sixties pride with ease and Oscar de la Renta’s uptown swish firmly cemented its place as a favourite of political wives. While there was an explosion of colours on the runway, black-and-white established itself as the popular choice for the coming season. ‘Bold’, however, seemed to be the buzzword, as sexy silhouettes made their presence felt and statement-making stripes and mixed patterns caught one’s eye. It was towards the end of the fashion extravaganza that the defining moment was reached – Ralph Lauren’s collection teemed with matador suits, serapes, ruffles and fringes, as he drew inspiration from Spain and mastered colour blocks in his dramatic presentation. Also coming in towards the end was the Calvin Klein Collection that opened with a black satin conical bustier dress that had critic’s calling the collection as ‘sexually charged’.
Must haves off the runway
Sleevless jackets
Full skirts – swingy and short or falling below the knee
Muted floral dresses
Striped pantsuits
Trend spotting
Bold bright colours like maroon, black, red, white and turquoise
Striped patterns
Easy silhouettes
Black-and-white
Peplum details
Flats
Reigning on the runway
Victoria Beckham
Posh remained true to her fondness for solid colours and no prints, but she increased the practicality of her collection by creating looks meant for the everyday woman. Separates in coral, white and black, along with suits and sandals featured in her collection.
Tommy Hilfiger
Nautical references dominated the collection that featured tailored suits and dresses in stripes of blue and red, apart from anchor motifs and seersuckers. With critics calling the collection a ‘crowd-pleaser’, there was no surprise that the front row was dominated by celebrities like Jade Jagger, Denise Richards, Mischa Barton, Janet Jackson, Black Eyed Peas and P. Diddy (entourage included)!
Zac Posen
This celebrity favourite had Naomi Campbell, Coco Racha, Angela Lindvall, Karolina Kurkova walk the ramp in his 40’s inspired collection. It also helped that Martha Stewart was seated in the front row. Channelling old world glamour, Posen’s pieces exuded a timelessness that will make them a red-carpet hit. Sculpted-bustier tops, peplum jackets, flower prints and gorgeous gowns in silk tulle, satin and taffeta were drool-worthy as they came in an extraordinary palette comprising rose, ice-blue, lemon, jade and ivory.
Front row favourites
The celebrity pile-up at the New York fashion Week was immense. Even David Beckham was sure to mark his attendance, photographed as he was at Yohji Yamamoto’s Y-3 10{+t}{+h}{+ }anniversary show. Ralph Lauren’s dramatic exposition saw fashion queens Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde seated on the front row. Kelly Obourne came in with pal Lourdes Ciccone, diva Madonna’s daughter, at Zac Posen’s celebrity-swarming show. Other notable paparazzi darlings included Sarah Jessica Parker at Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish at Altuzurra, Jennifer Aniston’s beau Justin Theroux at Alexander Wang and Alicia Keys at the Edun show.