It’s Fashion Week in New York! In the city that never sleeps the heels have been high, the accessories have been de rigueur, and the sound of clicking cameras has resembled a cloud of cicadas all week long. The Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear 2012 shows have been running since the beginning of the week, and they have not disappointed. Designers offered up gorgeous and sometimes madcap creations that stunned and stimulated show goers and indicated a fresh new group of trends (hello burgundy, midi skirts, peplums, and leather!). Read on for some highlights from this week’s shows.
1. Marc Jacobs
The ever-innovative designer of Louis Vuitton as well as his eponymous line produced a series of fantastical looks at this season’s show, inspired by, of all things, pilgrims. Models were clad in outlandishly proportioned, jewel-toned, balloonish silhouettes topped with enormous hats and finished off with dark lips and buckle shoes. The looks, though their shapes recalled Plymouth Rock, were rendered in brilliant greens and purples, often in head-to toe-monotone. It was certainly a madcap showing, but great fun nonetheless.
2. Prabal Gurung
This slightly lesser-known Nepalese designer is a favorite among magazine editors. His collection this time around was entitled “Heaven and Hell” and featured a progression of looks running the gamut from dark and hellacious in black and blue to angelic and delicate in white and gold. Gurung also made use of some very interesting textiles (an iridescent purple-and-green, for example, popped up on a few garments) and sumptuous, unexpected doses of fur.
3. DKNY
DKNY, Donna Karan’s wildly popular offshoot line, is renowned for mixing a tough city-girl aesthetic with a feminine look, and this collection certainly fits that mold. The models stomping down the runway were clad in sharp, urbane looks that projected the DKNY girl to a tee, but the high point of the show came when two all-burgundy looks glided out, one after the other, rendered in the richest leather and fur you ever did see. The effect was strong, glamorous, and forward-thinking.
4. Thakoon
This Thai-American wunderkind displayed a vibrant collection that stood out against so many other, moodier shows dominated by black and burgundy. Brilliant reds, pinks, and iridescents were layered with one another—peplums, cropped tops, and midi skirts—creating interesting silhouettes elevated by sharp, clean lines. Exuberant and fresh.
5. Jason Wu
Determined that his collection not be overshadowed by the enormous success of his collaboration with Target, Jason Wu presented a surprisingly tough and unsurprisingly gorgeous group of looks. Burgundy was, again, prominent, in addition to military motifs and liberal deployment of fur (on arms and peplums, no less). This represents a departure for Wu, who has in the past favored clean, feminine dresses and separates. An unexpected and totally badass turn of events.
The season has yielded much food for thought and some tantalizing new trends to try out. While some of the madness displayed is definitely only for the runways, many of these trends are great for daily inspiration! Try out some of the burgundy goodness that so many designers showed in the form of tights, a dress, or a jacket–it looks great paired with chocolate brown, navy blue, and ivory. Or inject a dose of fur (faux or otherwise) into your outfit in the form of a vest or hat! Only time will tell how long each trend lasts, but the Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear collections were certainly a thing to behold.
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