Malandrino Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

It rained before and after the presentation of catherine Malandrno’s collection, outside the Lincoln center. The models shivered on their platforms, but at least they were dry. Malandrino’s Spring collection was an exercise in handcrafts: leather macrame, patchwork, stitched beads and lots of drapery.

Diane von Fürstenberg Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

Frenchman Yvan Mispelaere is the new right hand of Diane von Fürstenberg. He brings along the experience he’s got working at Gucci, Chloe (when Phoebe Philo was in charge) and Louis Feraud. For his first DvF-collection he got inspiration from an Isadora Duncan retrospective  in Paris and he dubbed it Goddess.

But the collection was not about Grecian draping, the theme referred to empowered, intellectual beauty. The dominant look was clean, crispy sportswear in major graphic prints and bold, subtle colors (mint, melon, sky-blue, peach, purple)): light weight silk separates – fluidly tailored shorts, shirts and jackets – and the houses signature dresses. Hooded jumpsuits and flowing caftans added a hint of summer. And yes, there was some draping and even a golden Goddess-dress, but van Mispelaere knew were to stop.

Derek Lam Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

Derek Lam’s collection was roughly based on a review about an exhibition focused on Sixties Californian Minimalism. It was casual and light in a Californian way, had seventies-influences (the high, wide trousers, the trench, the denim, the calf-long skirts) and looked very minimal. No frills, no ornaments, a clean silhouette, just blue denim, black and white.

Last season Lam looked to the American West for his collection of urban sportswear. For spring he went to California. In a way his collection looked still sporty, but more soft, refined and pure. Highlights were the A-line suede skirts, poplin blouses, canvas trenchcoats,, high waisted denim pants and thin cashmere sweaters.

Streetfashion New York Womenswear ss2011 Day 1

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Louboutin-heels, your latest Dries van Noten-jacket or that vintage Prada? 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.

Tommy Hilfiger Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

On Sunday evening Tommy Hilfiger celebrated the 25^th anniversay of his fashion house. First there was the fashion show and afterwards there was a big party at the Metropolitan Opera.

The fashion show was attended by a very famous crowd. Lenny Kravitz, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker among others were there to celebrate 25 years of Tommy Hilfiger.

The new spring/summer collection was very American and very Tommy Hilfiger. The models all worked the preppy TH-look in bright-colored blue, red, white and yellow.

Boys and girls walked the runway in neat, safe outfits, which stayed very true to the Hilfiger brand.

The ladies wore shirt dresses, Bermuda shorts, checked pants, tennis sweaters, short jackets and cable knit waistcoats. All completed by TH hats, bags, waist-belts shoes and sunglasses.

The fellows promoted double breasted jackets, eye-catching ties, colorful socks and loafers. They wore checked pants too, which were actually the most outspoken pieces of the show.

The show was ended by several sophisticated looks; a navy gown with cut-outs around the waists and a white tuxedo with black details. The perfect looks for heading straight to Hilfiger’s afterparty at which 25 years of an all American brand were celebrated till midnight.

DKNY Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

The DKNY collection had the perfect summer feeling to it. The fresh-faced models walking the show looked happy, playful and very girly, all aspects you’re looking for in summer.

Donna Karan obviously went for a commercial collection this time. All of her design, in shades of turquoise, beige and pink, seemed wearable and will be easy to mix and match into any woman’s wardrobe.

The short ruffled skirts, the boyfriend jackets with the tucked up sleeves, the easy going pants, the bathing suits and the floral printed dresses were items almost any young woman would love to wear.

Then again the items were not very renewing or distinctive. They could just as well be hanging in a ZARA store.

Yet Donna Karan gave the items her own twist by adding bright red heels, black bows (around the models’ waists) and small scarves (around their necks). In combination with the red lips and tidy buns all models looked incredibly sexy. So distinctive or not, these clothes will surely sell fast next year.

Pictures of this show will follow soon.

Alexander Wang Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

The fashion show of 26-year old designer Alexander Wang was one of the first big shows of New York Fashion Week. Celebs like Lenny Kravitz, M.I.A en model Erin Wasson attended the show, which seemed to be inspired by painters.

Models walked the runway like they’d just left their painting jobs, they had white paint (which was actually clay) in their hair and were wearing white overalls. All clothes were very loose-fitting and therefore appeared rather street-chic.

The girls all looked very fresh in their light-colored outfits. Their bleached eyebrows and clean faces added to that. Knowing Alexander Wang normally uses lots of black this lightness came as quite a surprise.

Like more designers this season Wang chose to work with parachute silk. He showed some printed versions (on which unfinished crossword puzzles could be seen) and combined it with sheer fabrics. Apart from the white he introduced some funky mint green and a couple of terracotta-shaded designs.

The collection was cool and fresh and is sure to become a hit. The designs are not quite the catch for women looking for lady-like clothes, but the ‘models off-duty’, Wang usually designs for, are bound to fall in love with them.

CFDA-Awards 2010

The CFDA-awards are considered to be the Oscars of the international fashionworld and is organised by the Council of Fashion designers of America. It’s one of the hottest tickets on the fashion calendar, and the awards are much coveted.

The Swarovski Awards, which are given to emerging talent, went to Jason Wu favourite of Michelle Obama.  He fought off competition from Joseph Altuzara and Prabal Gurung who won in the womenswear category. Richard Chai landed the menswear prize and Alexander Wang received the award for accessories.

The biggest prize of the night, Womenswear Designer of the Year, was won by Marc Jacobs. Christopher Bailey picked up the International Designer of the Year Prize.

There were also some special awards handed out. Michael Kors, the only winner to receive a standing ovation, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Anna Wintour. Legendary model Iman was given the Fashion Icon Award.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who was wearing an Alexander McQueen-dress hand-picked for her by the label’s new head of design, Sarah Burton led a tribute to the late, great designer.  She was followed by a parade of some of McQueen’s most iconic designs.

Fashion Focus: all about Alexander Wang

 

 

 

Name of the brand: Alexander Wang

Name(s ) of the designer(s):  Alexander Wang

About the designer(s):  Alexander Wang (1984) was born and raised in San Francisco. He moved to New York City at the age of eighteen to try his hand at designing clothes. He studied one year at Parsos and did an internship at Teen Vogue. Then he decided to quit school and launched his first collection. It was immediately very well received. Everyone loved his perfectly crafted cashmere sweaters.

Start of the brand: 2007

First collection: spring 2007

The Wang woman: has a streetchic style and likes to mix and match

Wang women: Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, Erin Wasson, Megan Fox, Mary-Kate Olsen, Nicole Richie and Gwyneth Paltrow

The clothes are: edgy, masculine, well taillored, casual, cool, sexy vs androgyny, French chic and rock grunge. They are always finished with a slouchy rolled-out-of-bed edge.

Type of clothes: Alexander Wang makes a full range of ready to wear pieces, from distressed boyfriend jeans and shrunken vests to, of course, covetable cozy cardigans. The inspiration comes from the street and thus the clothes have a downtown feeling.

Signature: model-off-duty style

Collaborations: Alexander Wang for Keds (Fall 2008), Alexander Wang for Uniqlo, capsule collection (May 2008).

Quotes:

• ‘There are pros and cons to starting so young. In the beginning, people said, ‘I’ve never heard of this person, he’s what, 21?’. There are stereotypes, but the greatest satisfaction has been proving them wrong.’
• I didn’t have any investors. My mum and I, my sister-in-law and my brother, we’re the four partners”
• It’s all those quirky people you just bump into that inspire me the most.’
• “When I started out, I wanted to pick one familiar item that evoked luxury—cashmere was perfect. But moving forward, I want to make it more of a lifestyle brand. I kind of want to be the new Theory.”

Awards: he won the CDFA Fashion Fund, which was 20.000 USD.

Extra:
Wang’s favorite outfit is skinny jeans, T-shirt and a backpack
He has a simple belief that has taken him very far: ‘I’m in New York City – I can do anything I put my heart to.’
He got an internship at Marc Jacobs
He always keeps in mind an advice Marc Jacobs gave to him: ‘Give them something that’s going to take time to sink in. By the time they get it, change it again – you’ve got to keep them guessing!’
He showed his first collection to an editor at Teen Vogue. She loved it
He was already cutting frocks at the age of fifteen
He named one of his shoe designs after Dutch Model Mirte Maas
(The pictures you see are of the fall/winter 2010/2011 collection)

Streetwear trend: trenchcoats

There is hardly any fashion piece that is worn as much and by as many diverse people as the trenchcoat. This iconic coat has a style that suits any person, no matter their age, gender, length, size or race.

Although Burberry claims they invented this coat, nowadays many large fashion labels have trenchcoats in their collections. And the fact that you can run itno someone wearing a trenchcoat every minute of the day proves these coats are still ultra-popular.

While we were in Milan, Paris and New York we ran into all kinds of people wearing the trenchcoat as well. They all wore the fashion piece  differently. So the saying that a trenchcoat tells you something about a person must be true.

If you – after watching our photos – haven’t yet got enough of the streetstyle trench you should take a look at The Art of Trench. Especially for Burberry fashion blogger Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) took the most amazing streetwear trenchcoat photos and Burberry created a website around it.

We couldn’t picture a world without the trenchcoat. If you ask us it’s like with denim, it’s here to stay forever.

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