Good morning, Friday. It's been a bit of a week but all is well and I'm looking forward to the weekend for reals.
So Fashion Week came and went in my city, and really, it was a bit of a snooze. It's a weird dichotomy this fashion thing- on the one hand so many people are interested in fashion nowadays and being given a platform to express themselves on blogs, Instagram, and everywhere else you can think of. On the other hand, "real" fashion and style as we know it has been largely dismantled, with very little excitement happening on the runway in terms of amazing clothes that take your breath away. Sure, there were some good things, but largely, the New York shows were a bore. It's sad to me that the real show seems to be taking place on the streets, where bloggers are having a pose off with the runway models and competing for eyeballs. Just like the world, fashion has been turned upside down. I'm not sure what's next but I will always love and be intrigued by fashion and style, and that's that.
So with that, there were a few interesting things happening on the runway and here's where I landed.
Buy now, wear now. In terms of breaking ground, this was the most important trend of the week. From Ralph to Tom Ford to Tommy Hilfiger, designers were putting out collections that could be purchased the next day in stores and online. This is an unprecedented move to acknowledge the rapid pace of life as we know it, and it will be interesting to see how it translates in sales. Apparently, Tommy's collection did really well. Some designers like Tory Burch and Michael Kors chose to combine Spring pieces with a few choice items available now- really love that idea and speaks to our lack of seasons and need for clothes that accommodate our weird weather patterns.
Next level events. Fashion shows have always been an event and an experience, but leave it to Tommy Hilfiger to bring an amazing event to his crowd- for his collection with Gigi Hadid, Mr. Hilfiger created "Tommy Pier" a carnival experience complete with games, rides, and pop up spots to buy the collection- oh and celebrities galore. Fabulous. And Alexander Wang had a fully functional 7-11 and performance space at his show, a collaboration with Adidas that will have sell out crowds for Spring. Maybe with all the collaborations happening, the power of two results in some top notch and next level events to celebrate? I love how creative both of these shows were, and hope to see more in the future.
Flower power/rave culture. Perhaps as a backlash to our haywire, acid trip of an election, designers were trying to put a little love in our hearts. From Michael Kors happy flower prints to Tracy Reese's flowered and flared suiting, fashion was channeling a summer of love vibe. Plus Marc Jacobs rave-like collection nodded to the old days of Manchester and the Hacienda and the Happy Mondays but who was taking some heat for his hairpieces that many felt were culturally appropriated and anything but happy. Can't we all just get along?
Tummy time. Straight up- I don't like this trend. I must say the showing of the midriff is for the 1% of us who are young enough and fit enough to pull off this trend. But perhaps a focus on athletic fashion has led to an obsession with showing that belly. Ugh. Everyone from Vera Wang to Alexander Wang to Nicholas K had me thinking about a carb free life full of tummy tucks and stomach crunches. I'm going to ignore this trend for the most part (for my own consumption), but those of you who are taut and toned, go for it.
Serious stripes. I love this trend- what many in fashion call "banker stripes", I love this fresh take on a trend that is relatively easy to wear and will surely be all over Zara and more accessible fast fashion for all of us to enjoy. My favorite takes were at DKNY and Rag and Bone, who incidentally gave birth to another trend, the extended sleeve. I call that little blue and white striped shirtdress to replace that chambray off the shoulder dress that was everywhere this past Spring.
So yea, was Fashion Week groundbreaking? Yes and no. The immediacy thing is truly new, while most of the other trends are not. Let's see what the other destinations on the Fashion Week express yield. Also worth noting- lots and lots of yellow, bathrobe silhouettes, and playing with menswear khaki.
Cause that's what's up this finally able to get an Uber again kind of post FW Friday in the best city on Earth. Yours in read it now, buy it now. XO
