Now that we've had a chance to digest the New York Fall 2010 Fashion Week that was, we present the top five trends worth paying attention to—and how to work them right now. Our biggest takeaway from the week: rather than trying to wow with elaborate creations, designers instead focused on presenting functional clothing that their customers could actually wear.
Pared Down Utility
Derek Lam (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)
As the city’s resident design maverick, Marc Jacobs has a tendency to use a shock and awe design tactic. But this time, Jacobs presented a serene and beautiful collection that was pitch perfect with the minimal tone of the season. Elsewhere, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row showed mostly black luxury basics; 3.1 Phillip Lim offered a tightly edited and straightforward selection, especially compared to seasons past; and Coach Executive Creative Director Reed Krakoff’s debut collection and Derek Lam’s western-inspired outing both echoed Phoebe Philo’s chic utilitarian collection for Celine's spring season, presented six months ago.
Get the Look eBay:
Calvin Klein Cable Short Oversized Collar Jacket (buy it now price, $350), Calvin Klein Wool Skirt (buy it now price, $216)
Pile it On
Rodarte (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)
Thakoon showed strength in his take on American sportswear by layering rich fabrications in different textures with healthy helpings of fur (another big trend this season). Vera Wang layered delicate pieces with a poetic and romantic hand. Frank Tell pared bulbous skirts with voluminous fur coats. Suno’s multitudes of jovial prints delightfully collided. Richard Chai Love used layers of jersey in dresses in the most minimal way. Rodarte’s enthusiasm yielded striking layers, too; the Mulleavy sisters used different fabrics such as wool and jacquard in many of their pieces to create an experimenal patchwork of textiles.
Get the Look on eBay:
Ewa i Walla Gerty Double Layer Tunic Dress (buy it now price, $224.48), Barbara Speer Double Layer Linen Pinafore Dress (buy it now price, $254.62)
Velvet Love
Ralph Lauren (Photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images)
We’ve hailed the return of velvet for fall 2009, but for fall 2010, the rich fabric proved that it has staying power. Julian Louie, a young designer who works with an architectural bent, used the fabric to soften his silhouettes as panels in tops, skirts and shift dresses; Diane Von Furstenberg gave it a flirty vibe, with prints seen in slouchy tops; and Sophie Theallet used it in a green wrap dress with a luxurious sheen. Velvet tops and dresses with bulbous sleeves perfectly conveyed Ralph Lauren’s bohemian outing.
Get the Look on eBay:
Oscar De La Renta Runway Black Velvet Gown (buy it now price, $999.99), Roberto Cavalli Stretch Velvet Tiger Animal Skirt (winning bid, $219)
Leather Looks
Altuzarra (Photo by JP Yim/WireImage)
Furs ruled the runway, but the prevalence of leather couldn’t be ignored either. Elise Overland’s tough, rock and roll aesthetic produced leather halter tops and dresses; Rad Hourani’s androgynous looks were made complete with shiny black panels seen in coats and jackets; and Matthew Ames used leather to amplified the volume of his silhouettes. But the most effective use of material was in Altuzarra’s sexy outing, one replete with seductive black dresses and bodysuits joined by suture-like stitching.
Get the Look on eBay:
Jimmy Choo for H&M One Shoulder Black Leather Dress (starting bid, $299.99)
Peek-a-Boo cuts
Preen (Photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images)
At Halston, Marios Schwab’s modern update reatured included geometric cuts created by the draping of fabrics; Ohne Titel's randomly ruched silk revealed some skin; and Alexander Wang's reworking of the Wall Street staple, the pinstripe suit, meant sexy geometric cuts on long taut skirts. At Preen, peek-a-boo translated to unabashed sexiness, with tight wool knits pieced together to reveal cuts underneath the bust and on the chest and sensual drapey fabrics sliced to reveal lace under-layers.
Get the Look on eBay:
Chloe Black Open Back Cutout Dress (buy it now price, $599)
Robert Cordero is editor at JC Report, an influential online global style publication, where he also works on the new media company's business development and marketing initiatives.
