I don’t have to look much further than my managing editor to know that TIFF is running people ragged. Luckily for me, well-rested and in flats back at the office, my days have been filled with New York Fashion Week updates and after-party pictures. If you’re in a boat that needs to be steered towards something (anything!) un-TIFF, you’ve come to the right place. What follows are the best moments – so far – on the NYFW runways.
1. Donna Karan’s pink mascara
In highschool, I started wearing red and pink eyeliner on my water lines and everyone asked if I had an aggressive case of pink eye. On her Spring 2013 runway, Donna Karan sent the models down the catwalk with fuschia liner and mascara. Topping a mostly colourless (grey and tan) collection, it definitely provided the pop I usually look for. Unfortunately for a few intensely palid girls, the liner made them look a wee bit sickly.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine2. Marc Jacobs’ Warhol girls
Edie Sedgewick is alive, well and not always wearing pants on the Marc Jacobs runway. Armed with teased ponytails, thick sideswept bangs and thick winged eyeliner, models trapsed around in vertical stripes, scalloped hemlines and (again) no pants.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine3. 3.1 Phillip Lim’s grunge chic
A piece of me is convinced that the Tavi Gevinson in all of us would love to wear these pieces. Flowered but tough, dainty but bulky, etheral but badass, the collection marries plaid, leather and buckles with chiffon, florals and sheer fabrics. It’s almost as if all those angsty teens from the 90s grew up and got a glam makeover.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine4. Karen Walker’s polka dots
After getting long polka dotted nail art last week I decided polka dots are having a moment. And I’m right. Not only did Walker’s models have bangs and ombre hair that I’d die for but they walked the runway in highwaisted drawstring powder blue pants. That were polka dotted. Collars were Peter Pan and hats were bucketed but it was all about seeing spots.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine5. Naomi Campbell’s appearance
Walking the runway for Zac Posen alongside heavy (teehee!) weights like Coco Rocha and Karolina Kurkova, the statuesque model shocked the crowd when she appeared in a silk floral print dress. Right before opening the show to audible gasps from the audience, Campbell tweeted on her brand spankin’ new account that she was about to walk for Posen.
Photo Credit: Grazia Daily6. Alice & Olivia’s everything
Sparkles, Crop tops. Full skirts. Stripes, rainbows and more sparkles. Every time I flipped through the Alice & Olivia lookbook for Spring 2013, I couldn’t being myself to choose just one look. Light liner and heavy eyelashes were the perfect add-ons to a collection that included an orange leather jacket, a white sparkly cocktail dress, and a polka dotted jumpsuit. Inherently mod-esque, this line is the escape every woman on Mad Men is searching for.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine7. Man Repeller live-hosting Marc Jacobs in a huge hat
Like really huge. And then she gave a tiger-striped huge hat for Anna Dello Russo to wear. And ADR never turns down large headgear.
Photo Credit: Leandra Medine’s Twitter8. Victoria Beckham’s hats
Boho hats are apparently going to hit back with a vengence if Beckham’s runway is any indication. Paired with simple frocks and unadorned seperates, the black wide brimmed hats were designed by milliner Stephen Jones and are perfect for those blinding summer days. Or walking next to David Beckham. Whatever.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine9. Rodarte’s jewels
This runway was starting as I began to write this piece. Even though no feet had hit the catwalk yet, I added the brand name to the list because I knew they would show something article-worthy. Inspired by fantasy role-playing games, the Mulleavy sisters showed intricate breastplates and jewel-encrusted leather jackets. In addition to the jewels they wore, each model wore dragon earrings that wove around their ears. More like Dresses & Dragons.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine10. Jason Wu’s leather
Since we’re beginning to experience fall temperatures, we look at the smooth, buttery leather in Wu’s show and think ‘Ooooh that’s perfect!’ Once the blistering temperatures of spring/summer 2013 roll around we might not be so inclined to ooze our way into his pieces. But for now we can look at the precision-cut outfits and imagine ourselves (sans sweat) in them.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine11. Jenny Packham’s ladylike shapes
My first initial thought while clicking through the looks from Packham’s Spring 2013 collection was “Wow, Taylor Swift is gonna be all up in these clothes!” They’re so feminine, so girly, and so inherently pretty that they’re perfect for ladies who use events and parties as a chance to live through prom all over again. Dainty necklines, sassy hemlines and soft shades.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine12. Oscar de la Renta’s Crayola highlights
Much like Karan’s pink mascara, de la Renta’s candy-coloured highlights woven into the beehives of his models, added a pop of fun glamour to an already fabulously multi-hued, classy collection. Pink, yellow and blue streaks started small and skinny at the tops of the girls’ heads but met in the back like a web of neon string.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine13. The Blonds’ balls to the wall collection
I love The Blonds and their ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ aesthetic. Between cartoonish flowers, lipstick tubes on crotches, glitter (oh so much glitter), and Barbie-esque wigs, it can be a trial to wrap your head around everything they send down the catwalk. Their ever-present and fast-approaching-iconic corsets are still a mainstay in the collection and make a welcome appearance to open the show. Party dresses, pencil skirts and even a few tighty whities appear with bright colours, latex and embellishments all over the place.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine____
Bianca Teixeira writes about style for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @BeeLauraTee.
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