Fashion Blog » Runway Review

The hustle bustle of Fashion Week NYC 2009 is over and one of the most apparent trends on the runway was the return of the big hair, bold makeup, and vintage, 80’s inspired clothes.

Marc Jacob’s designs seemed to be a melting pot of the exotic style and classic retro trends. These models looked like sketches of ink as the colors remained neutral and each design maintained a sense of precision and lining.

The peach and blue combination is very unique and reminds me of videography of olden times. There’s an added charm to this look with special attention to the pearls attached to the oversized hair accessory. Of course, the frilly shoulder pads are straight from the 80’s and the dress has a leafy print that you probably haven’t seen in the last two decades.

Avril Lavigne presented her new line of clothing at NYC’s Fashion Week and her designs have an 80’s inspired theme as well. Here, this checkered long button down shirt and retro long leggings are not exactly new to the fashion scene, but is still upholding the 80’s fashion trend. The bold smokey-eyes and big pomped hair shows us that it’s 20 years later and these trends aren’t going anywhere for Spring 2010.

Image source: latimes.com, fadedyouthblog.com 

Check out these pictures from Kate Sylvester’s collection at Sydney’s Fashion Week:

News.com.au reports on the apology that was made by Kate Sylvester due to complaints about her collection, one of which came from the national secretary of Australia’s Returned & Services League, Derek Robson.  He felt the use of war metals was “appalling & sickening”.  His main concern was timing because April 25th is the day when New Zealand & Australia reflect back on the brave memebers of the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during WWI.  So, I can see why this would upset people.  Although, I do see what Sylvester was trying to do from a creative standpoint.

Sylvester says she meant no disrespect against the military.  This collection is titled “Royally Screwed” and crowns & tiaras were also used.  TV3.com.nz reports Sylvester stating about her collection: “It’s called Royally Screwed and is about mad, bad royals, which is quite topical at the moment.”

What do you think about this collection.  If a designer from the U.S. did this with U.S. servicemen’s military metals…how would you feel?

Read the full article from News.com.au here.

Image Source: tv3.co.nz, livenews.com.au, theage.com.au, news.com.au, runwayreporter.co.nz

Here’s the latest from Fashion Week Fall 08:

Betsey Johnson was her classic self, with an over-the-top, but still pretty wearable collection. I loved everything about it, from the beatnik theme to the sampling of every decade since Kerouac and the beat ruled the underground. Check it out!

At Marc by Marc Jacobs, punky plaid, zipper details and voluminous collars were on display. Bows, sequins and….are those pantaloons I see?

The couture shows are like candy to me. I just sit back and wait to be dazzled, and I haven’t been disappointed by the Spring 08 runways. Angles, symmetry and volume seems to be an obsession of many designers this season, and nobody is holding back, especially where texture is concerned. Colorwise the pallets have run the gamut from muted at Chanel to vivid (an understatement) at Dior.

Here are some highlights of the Spring couture shows:

Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld plays with the classic Chanel jacket, mixing it with ballet flats and short angled skirts that remind of the 80s. Nylons also make a comeback in this ethereal collection.

Christian Dior

Leave it to John Galliano to do it up. The Dior catwalk was teaming with lusciously grandiose and billowing pieces. And, oh, was the 60s vibe was palpable.

Armani Privé.

It was all in the details for Giorgio Armani, who took a “more is better” attitude this season, working with lines, large floral add-ons, and sashes galore.

Here’s the second installment of the Pre-Fall 08 fashion shows, including Bill Blass and Roberto Cavalli:

Bill Blass: bows, high-waisted pants, sequins, floral, white, slim lines, silk, color gradation.

Chanel: Metallic, pink, layers, black and white, tweed, plaid, bubble skirts, purple, zippers, Amy Winehouse hair.

Photos Source.

The Pre-Fall 2008 shows tease us as we wait for the February shows to wow us. Here’s a taste of what we have to look forward to from Oscar de la Rente and Vera Wang.

Oscar de la Renta:

Trends: Florals, full skirts, brocade, wide leg pants, embellishment, bold color, big shoulders, gold, and ruffles.

Vera Wang:

Trends: Slim silhouettes, relaxed blouses, pleated skirts, color blocking, fur, shimmer, silk, skinny pants.

Quite spectacularly, The Great Wall of China was the backdrop for the most recent Fendi show. Karl Lagerfeld’s intention to stage the show at the World Heritage Site was announced in February, when he said, “It’s all about the opening of China, not just economically, but also from an artistic and cultural point of view.” Yet, even having all these months to get used to the idea didn’t prepare me for how amazing the whole event turned out to be.

It wasn’t the clothes so much as the staging that was so monumental. Actually, a lot of the designs were from the Milan show, with a small collection put together for this particular catwalk. But still, it was beautiful and glamorous, both qualities for which I am a sucker. And so is Kate Bosworth:

Check out the video footage here:

YouTube - Watch 

Okay, now it’s your turn: At what international monument or site would you stage a fashion show?  Can little ‘ol you top Lagerfeld?

Day 3 at the Smashbox Studios brought the best show yet: Grey Ant. The show was held in the Lightbox, a relatively small room where they packed us in hot and tight, but the claustrophobia and dire thirst were well worth it. The stage was set minimally with a white runway and a backdrop sans pizzaz, which worked well with the collections’ futuristic vibe. Well, I say futuristic, but the past was definitely present, too with the ever-presence of the line’s signature high-waisted jeans as well as a tie dyed garment or two.

Paneling was a key element of the show, and designer Grant Krajecki sent out lots of sexy strapless dresses with sharp lines, but a laid-back element also persevered. There were plenty of over-sized, slouchy caftan tops that added nice contrast to highly structured pieces. Other trends on the catwalk included bandeau tops, delicate layering pieces, high-waisted trousers that brought Katherine Hepburn to mind, hot pants, and wide leg/platform shoes combos. Oh, and a few pieces with John Waters’ films starlet, Divine, popped up too.

Shop Grey Ant styles here.

I was lucky enough to go to the Heatherette show at Mercedes-Benz Spring ‘08 LA Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios (wow, that’s a mouth full) last night. The buzz about the LA shows is always so faint compared to the hoopla that surrounds the bigger shows around the world, but I couldn’t have had a better time if I was in Milan. It was a night of celebrities, free-flowing champagne, fancy snacks, free makeovers by the amazing Smashbox makeup artists and, of course, Heatherette. Translation: fun times.

The trends on the Heatherette runway are what you’d expect: mixed patterns (plaid, leopard, floral, picnic table scenes), mega color, overalls, ruffles, big shoes, netting, gold lamé, plunging necklines, baby doll dresses, greased up bodies, beading, orange, one-shoulder, fairy dust, satin beach ball appliqué, and lots and lots of tulle. The usual club kid chic.

Celebrities in the front row and on the runway:  Kim Kardashian (who texted and yawned through most of it) and the Gastineau girls, model/”it girl” Corey Kennedy, Robin Antin, Aubrey O’Day, Ross Matthews, Jennifer Gimenez, Jenna Jameson, Kat DeLuna, Daniela Sea, and Lydia Hearst.

Photo Source.

Paris Fashion Week was pretty exciting this year, and John Galliano really did it up. Of course. But flashiness aside, in the midst of all the eye candy were pretty, wearable pieces in gorgeous colors. I want!

I had to show you, so here’s a glimpse:

Source.