Donna Karan Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

For coming spring Donna Karan’s collection is all about tribal. She brought together a beautiful color palette of earthy tones, vivid prints, wearable feminine pieces and statement tribal jewelery. All slightly inspired by Haiti, which she visited last year.

But as strong as the theme of the collection was, the designs were still very Donna Karan. The one shoulder dresses, the tunics, the loose skirts, the sporty details and the cutouts; all perfect for Karan’s American woman.

There was enough variety to get dressed for any kind of situation. A cool bathing suit for the beach, a figure-hugging dress to hit the club in, a tunic and pants for a business meeting, a printed dress for a family lunch, a dress + leather jacket for shopping and a column gown to wow everyone at a summer gala. That is, if you’re into tribal of course.

 

Victoria Beckham Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

Though the press seemed to like her intimate presentations in the past Victoria Beckham has moved on. On Sunday she held her first big runway show at which she sat front row herself.

Halfway the show it became clear Posh had turned into Sporty Spice showing structured hoodies and loose fitting shiny vests. Her light-colored summer dresses seemed fit for a game of tennis and even the Louboutin shoes looked comfortable.

But apart from the sporty designs there were also still a lot of elegant dresses VB’s celebrity friends would love to wear to some fancy party. A body accentuating navy and orange dress, worn by Dutchie Daphne Groeneveld, will look swell on both Eva Longoria and Katie Holmes. And a black tanktop dress could be great for Kate Winslet or Oprah.

Victoria’s collection is not only great on it’s own, it also fits in with the overall sporty vibe we’re getting from New York Fashion Week so far. We’re curious what Victoria’s second line Victoria by Vitocria Beckham will do this week, but it seems she can do no wrong.

First View New York SS2012: Athletic Energy

New York makes a powerful start by taking the fast track. The first sound trend is spotted most clearly at Alexander Wang. Sporty garments with a great deal of sensuality in both styling as well as fabric looks and tactility. Technical to the touch and techno-crafted in the make. We spot shaded digital printing, sharp laser cutting, graphic blocking, vibrant colouring and architectonic shaping with grand physicality. The models of Y3 as well as Altuzarra seem to fly in free-floating featherweight windbreakers. Alexander Wang nears performing active wear referencing sports functionality most literary. Where Lacoste adds its known sporty vibe by use of bold graphics in sporty shades.  A promising start of the season expressing both opportunism as well as optimism.

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam.

Zac Posen Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

After having showed in Paris for two seasons Zac Posen returned to New York for Fashion Week on Sunday. He presented a collection all of his famous friends will love. His designs seemed fit for a classy business meeting as well as for any kind of award ceremony. And so did the models classic hairdo’s and stately jewelry pieces.

There was no clear theme or thread; it was just a pretty collection of elegant, form fitting dresses in shades like pastel, ruby, emerald and grey.

Posen seemed to have gone a little too far with a revealing off-shoulder, grey V-neck dress, but overall his creations looked great for both young and old.

 

Y3 by Yamamoto Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

At Y3 it wasn’t immediately clear what kind of clothes were sent down the runway. Jackets looked like dresses, shorts appeared to be skirts. There was a lot of asymmetry going on and on top of that everything was styled in an unconventional manner. Tulle skirts worn with trousers, parka coats over leggings and so on.

As always with Yohji Yamamoto the red-lipped girls appeared sporty and tough. Walking the runway (on all kinds of different sneakers) with their hands in their pockets, the seemed careless. Yet this time around there was a slightly feminine touch to some of the looks. Yohji (and the new creative director Dirk Schönenberg) came up with some silk outfits and gave their designs ruffles. They were a far cry from the super feminine Valentino ruffles, but they did add a (welcome) girly twist to the collection.

The color palette, lots of black, army green and some red Tartan prints, was just perfect for both men and women. The male models sported basic sportswear looks, with a sleeveless trench and a checked suit being the most outspoken pieces for men.

It was a typical Y3 collection, nothing more, nothing less.

 

Tommy Hilfiger Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

Tommy Hilfiger presented a preppy, but less loud spring-collection. No outsized florals like other designers showd, but men’swear checks and subtle shirting stripes. There were some bright motifs in orange and blue, pink and green in Mod-like cuts and sometimes with matching element like swimsuit, skirt, bag and shoes.

Swimwear was an important theme, but there were plenty of shirts- and T-dresses, bi-color raincoats and soft knits.

 

Thakoon Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

Thakoon Panichgul went multiculti again for spring. This time around, it was an ordinairy  bandanna that stimulated his fantasy.  When he studied its pattern, the paisleys led him to India. The cross-cultural exchange produced a super-vibrant collection of searing turquoise, saffron, orange, and gold, in silhouettes that ranged from Western shirts to shirts and dresses embroidered at the neckline. The metallic trim on saris provided a recurring motif.

Golden bands encircled the hem of a mini, the legs of khakis and lightweight denim jeans, and intervals on a long trapeze dress. Topping everything off were two-tone cowboy hats and blue sprayed hairdo’s.

Diane von Furstenberg Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

The theme of Diane von Furstenbergs collection was ‘Beginnings’, and referred slightly to the anniversary of 9/11. “It’s bout light and what light can do and how light changes everything” she said to reporters. The designer started with white, and opened the show with her signature wrap dress. Not slinky but in crispy cotton with a full circle skirt. The rest of the collection was inspired by modern Africa, with lots of layers, textures, elegance and vibrant colors. There was also a bit of retro glamour in the collection, looking at the hair of the models (beehives), circle skirts, beaded dresses or tomboys in tailored Bermuda shorts and blazers.

Streetfashion New York Womenswear ss2012 Day 3

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-boots, your latest Celine-dress or that vintage Chanel? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: New York  Fashion Week.

DKNY Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

Donna Karan’s spring collection was all about the American woman. So strong, confident American girls appeared in front of an all American backdrop (a yellow cab parked in the streets of New York). They looked sexy but it didn’t look like they were trying to hard. Their clothes looked airy and easy going, but the outfits didn’t seem too careless.

Prints, bright colors and the masculine/feminine theme were three main aspects of the show, all presented in a matchy matchy way (wedges, bags, floppy hats and clothes all in the same ‘theme’). All American shades like white, blue and red were mixed with a touch of pink, nude and green.

It was not the most mind blowing collection we’ve seen, yet everything seemed perfectly wearable for today’s American women. So by the time the sounds of Lenny Kravitz’ ‘American Woman’ filled the room, we’re sure every girl attending the show had already put a favorite item on her wishlist.

 

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