Aren’t you excited? New York Fashion Week starts tomorrow and runs through Feb. 9!
But alas, I shall not be there because I have to fulfill my civic duty as a Bay Area journalist. Even though I am not going to be able to see what’s in store for Fall 2007 or hob nob with some the world’s most renowned designers, I will still be able to see the collections online with two dimensional pictures.
Sure, it won’t be the same – and sure, I won’t get an opportunity to see these collections in a “live” setting, but I will be able to transport my views to the public with the two-dimensional pictures.
I’m not bitter or jealous of all those fabulous people viewing all these pieces of clothing before anyone else. No – I am not bitter at all. It’s fine. I am happy with looking them up on the internet the day after. So yeah, I am not bitter. Not bitter. Did I mention I’m not bitter?
This is the last time we will see the tents in Bryant Park. Let’s have a moment of silence. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Nonetheless, AP Fashion Writer, Samantha Critchell gave us a preview of what to expect at the nation’s biggest week of fashion. She also mentioned a change in the future of NY Fashion Week:
…this will mark the last time that 7th on Sixth, a division of IMG Fashion and the official organizing body of Fashion Week, is setting up giant tents in Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan to house the majority of the shows, including those staged by Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang and Diane von Furstenberg.
This past fall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared that the fashion shows had outgrown the facility. The fashion industry’s use of Bryant Park also forces the city to close an ice rink that’s open to the public right at the height of skating season. Many designers may end up moving to individual venues; a new central location has not been identified for the September shows, when the spring 2008 collections will be unveiled.
Well that’s kind of sad. No more Bryant Park? So it seems like I am missing the end of the Bryant Park era. What’s going to happen now? It looks like some designers are one step ahead of the game and have already chosen other venues.
Some designers, however, already stay away from the tents, including Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, which turned the ground floor of its corporate offices into a show space, and Donna Karan, who uses her late husband’s art studio.
After a yearlong hiatus, Tommy Hilfiger returns to the runway at a concert venue. Up-and-coming designer Phillip Lim is using an industrial-looking former nightclub lined by art galleries
So what else can we expect?
Of course, with the incessant coverage of “skinny models,” there will be healthier models. At this point, I really don’t care. They could use walruses and manatees to model the clothes. Just stop talking about this topic. It’s dead. Done. Finito. Move on.
As for styles, Critchell mentions that the color palette is “Americana”, with navy, gray, red, ivory and black paving the spectrum. For shapes, we can “expect long and lean funnels, a contrast to the wider and shorter silhouettes for spring.”
So, come fall 2007, does this mean no more short and voluminous styles? Oh well, “Long and lean funnels” are always a good thing. But I wonder who decided this.
Also, if short is out then I guess designer Doo-ri Chung is going against the grain:
Designer Doo-ri Chung is most excited to see on the runway a short dress ensemble that she believes embodies her entire fall collection. The look is actually two abstract-shape dresses that connect at the bottom. The inspiration was a continuation of her exploration of fabric folding onto itself to create fluidity and movement.
Of course, what would fashion design be without a little bit of a social message?
On Marc Bouwer’s runway, the headline is that the designer has stopped using any animal-based material, including leather and wool.
According to Critchell, retailer of Henri Bendelm Ann Watson says that everyone should keep their eyes on the collections of Phillip Lim, Diane von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, Michael Kors and Jovovich-Hawk (which includes Resident Evil diva, Milla Jovovich as the co-designer). In other words, expect to see a bunch of people copying their design genius in the fall.
And of course, my trend forecasting has proven to be right:
Watson hopes to see more classic tailoring in the fall clothes, particularly some wide leg trousers paired with blouses.
Once again, I am right. I am always right. Except when I’m wrong.
But here’s the pondering couture query posed by Watson:
She does, however, like all the spring and summer dresses that are beginning to hit stores now and she’s curious to see how they evolve. ”Will it continue as a layering piece?” Watson wondered. ”I’m also interested to see how the Marie Antoinette romanticism and femininity move into fall. I think it will be cleaned up and closer to the body.”
My thoughts exactly. But it seems like the whole “return of the dress” revolution isn’t ending anytime soon.
Looks like we are in for one hell of a Fashion Week - but still, I am not bitter that I am not there. I just wanted to clarify that.
Thank you.
The calm before the runway storm of “healthy and non-malnourished” models. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
