Fall 2008 Fashion Week: New York

Zac Posen

Leave it to Zac to give us a show. The predominant theme was the distinction between masculine and feminine dressing, and what happens when those lines are blurred. Silhoettes were romantic, details were intricate, pom poms were Disney-riffic.

BCBG Max Azria

Azria is the master of gorgeous, wearable clothes. There is never anything "off" about his collections--just classic shapes that embrace the trends. The thread that continued in most of the looks was the simple and effortlessly chic leather belt tied at the waist, which made for a beautiful contrast with the creamy palette of the dresses. There was also the voluminous mini, an oxymoron in itself, and edgy asseymetry to round out the collection.

Anna Sui

Oh Anna, your pieces make me want to be magically transformed into a beatnik-hippie-princess. There were patterns everywhere, colors straight out of a fairytale, all mixed together in a perfect collage of textures. The art noveau-inspired prints struck a cord with me, calling to mind 19th century posters and the artist Mucha.

Marc Jacobs

When it comes to Marc Jacobs, one often needs to sit and ponder his work in order to appreciate it. This season seems to be a call to modesty in reaction to a society of exhibitionism. Heavy stuff, yes, but the hemlines are low and the fit is generally loose. A collection for the intellectual fan of fashion.

3.1 Philip Lim

Lim, the current"It" guy of the fashion world, created a collection filled with a variety of colors and textures. The predominant influence seems to be Russian in the rich colors and brocades. His coats were all gorgeous on their own but would also complement a wide wardrobe, making them future covetable items.

Alexander Wang

Wang is the bad-boy rocker rebel of my small review. His body-consciouncess collection stood out against the more austere collections of other shows. The leather, gritty metallics, stark black, and clingy jersey all have an in-your-face attitude that should make him popular with pop tarts and rockers alike. I love the black and beige dress especially, which could perhaps herald a trend of black with neutral hues for the fall palette.

Pictures courtesy of http://www.style.com/

New York Fall Fashion Week 2007: Vol. 2

Marc Jacobs

In an interesting fashion, Marc Jacob's Fall 2007 runway collection turned into a chic geometry lesson. Clean lines, a simple palette, and interesting angles all combined to create a modern minimalism. A key trend were the various wide brim, short brim, and tilted hats that almost obscured the faces of the models, adding mystery and retro mystique. Ladylike cuts met menswear tailoring. A departure from his usual urban-friendly aesthetic, these clothes carried a Katherine-Hepburn vibe, both strong and powerful.

3.1 Phillip Lim

3.1 Philip Lim further cemented his status as one of the best new designers in fashion with this collection. It was both young and effortlessly cool, which is part of Lim's trademark style. The short hemline reined, proving to be a persisting trend from spring. The mostly gray, tonal collection was punched up with the occasional glint of dirty metallic, hint of vibrant color, or pop of polka dots. A very chic collection for budding ingenues.

Luella

In trademark Luella fashion, this collection was bright and bold. The clothes made no apologies for being decidedly extroverted. Known for her rock n' roll aesthetic, this collection was for the fashion risk-taker. Two words to define this collection: polka dots and, what appeared to be, galoshes. Although the polka dots added fun spice to an otherwise basic black dress, the galoshes brought to mind Jack Sparrow and a band of mangy pirates. Meant for those with a sense of humor, this collection unabashedly demanded attention.

all pictures courtesy of http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2007RTW/runwayshows/index.html