Fall Fashion Week

[andib]

Doesn't fashion week in NYC start soon?

Where on the web do you go to see photos of all of the new stuff?

[Karla]

Andi, try going here:  http://fashionweek.about.com/  and clicking the  Browse Fashion Week button (upper left screen).  I'm sure someone will post a better source, and then we can all go there and either admire or laugh.

[Claudine]

Style.com posts photos from all the shows almost immediately.

[lyra]

Doesn't fashion week in NYC start soon?

Where on the web do you go to see photos of all of the new stuff?

Already started- Thursday, I believe.  NYT's Style section always has good coverage:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/fashion/shows/index.html

[andib]

Thanks for all the great links!

[cmarie12]

Can you take one more:  http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/

It's the Mercedes Benz Official site.

[andib]

Thanks Carolyn!  I knew YOU would have the scoop! Are you going to get to see anything first hand this year?

[wheatokk]

I can't help but think that if these designs were all that someone from outer space saw of us earthlings, they'd never land here! Many of these artists design specifically for flat chested, anorexic 6 foot+ tall women. They aren't designing clothes that can be actually worn - from a cost, a practical, or a comfort standpoint.  These clothes have no relationship to the actual world that "real" people live and work in. And yet we allow these designers to influence what the rest of us will wear? That strikes me as absolutely mad!

Or maybe I'm just jealous because I am very short and will never have legs like them, even if lose another 50 lbs.    BTW, I work in a relatively large company and I can't think of a single woman here whose profile matches that of the runway models! Nor could we wear 99% of the clothes on display to work.

I know the twisted style is in, and I loved a long black jumpsuit with a twisted bodice by BCBGMAXAZRIA and a long purple evening dress with the twisted front by Nicole Miller.  Although I couldn't wear them, at least they were fairly normal compared to some of the other styles, likes Erin Fetherston's dresses with large ruffles around the hips and Verrier's "barbie doll" look. And what's with the microshort jumpsuits with elastic around the pant legs that hit right around the largest part of the thigh? (Of course those models don't actually have any so I supposed they're not worried about exposing their thunder thighs....)  Ditto for the long pieced pants with the gathered outside strips - perfect for accentuating your saddlebags!

I think my favorite so far is Tracy Reese.   Thanks for the links.  Kathleen

[lyra]

I can't help but think that if these designs were all that someone from outer space saw of us earthlings, they'd never land here! Many of these artists design specifically for flat chested, anorexic 6 foot+ tall women. They aren't designing clothes that can be actually worn - from a cost, a practical, or a comfort standpoint.  These clothes have no relationship to the actual world that "real" people live and work in. And yet we allow these designers to influence what the rest of us will wear? That strikes me as absolutely mad!

Ah, you would love reading  "The End of Fashion" by Teri Agins.
http://www.amazon.com/End-Fashion-Marketing-Clothing-Business/dp/0060958200/

I had the paperback a few years ago, and I would offer to send it to you except that I already passed it onto a friend who I think passed it on in turn!  Great read.   You might want to see if your library has it or something.

[lyra]

Cathy Horyn just wrote a wonderful blog post that touches on that as well. (She's a NYT fashion critic, and her blog is always a good read)

Here's a little bit:

The thing we like about Paris is that despite the volume of shows, everyone seems to be working toward a shared purpose—to show great contemporary fashion, innovative cuts, etc. That’s the message. It’s pretty straight-forward. But in New York, the runway has become the medium and not the message. Except in a handful of cases, it’s no longer the platform that informs us about clothes. It’s an expedient for celebrity, marketing, branding, image-making and corporations. Anyway, we don’t expect to learn much about fashion from it.

http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/soft-serve-fashion/

[wheatokk]

But in New York, the runway has become the medium and not the message. Except in a handful of cases, it’s no longer the platform that informs us about clothes. It’s an expedient for celebrity, marketing, branding, image-making and corporations. Anyway, we don’t expect to learn much about fashion from it.

Thanks, lyra.  That about sums up what I felt when looking at the clothes...or perhaps we should call them costumes?

kathleen

[lyra]

Isaac Mizrahi's outfits seem to be really amazing. 

Dress #4 in the style.com slideshow has a really pretty uneven bell shaped skirt.  #15 is a great pink dress that sort of looks like a shirtdress.  #39 is a really, really beautiful pale pink gown with a beaded top. (my favorite) More coverage here:
http://fashionista.com/2008/09/fashion_glamorous_isaac.php

[cmarie12]

Are you going to get to see anything first hand this year?

Oh Andib, I haven't been to the tents in ages!!!  I left the garment district about 8 years ago for the financial industry and haven't seen a show since then...and now that I work on the West Side, I don't even see the tents go up or get the dailies...

[wheatokk]

#39 is a really, really beautiful pale pink gown with a beaded top. (my favorite)

lyra, I love the way the top is cut in on the gown. I had a favorite pattern from the 60's (does that make it almost vintage??) with that same style top. I figure that someday I'll either lose enough weight to fit back into it, or more likely, redraft it to fit me seeing as the skirt portion was rather short 

Kathleen

[cmarie12]

I did get a chance to look at Michael Kors spring line...and its just awesome!  Gosh I want to sew some of those pieces NOW!!!   You can see it here!

[BeeBee]

Okay, while I TRUELY LOVE the black and white and especially the polka dots and do understand a collection, it looks a little like he bought the fabric and had to use it.  How many outfits can I get from this bolt. 
That said, yeah, I'm liking the dresses.  Flaired skirts are nice.  But I think I snorted wine out my nose when I saw the guy in plaid capris (or do guys call them clam diggers?  Or do real men wear capris?  so many questions....)

[cmarie12]

BeeBee - I always take the menswear with a grain of salt - a very large grain!!!!  I think he makes so many pieces from the same fabric to please different aspects of his clientele.  It was just a real cheerful, fun spring collection - well at least to me!

[BeeBee]

Yeah, the menswear stuff is just funny.  I really do like the new dresses.  Flowy skirts are cool.  And pants with a waist band.  I could easily get sucked into the black & white, I have to fight that trend.  I look better in browns.  But yes, really nice stuff.  And the white lace-look dress, OHHHHH!

[Marji]

I"m enjoying looking at the London Fashion week collections this week on Style.com
And I'm jumping for joy looking at the Basso and Brooke collection - I have tons of silk prints, so happy to know that next summer they are showing busy overall prints in simple silhouettes.
But the last look in their collection - do you think this dart placement is deliberate?


Also, I'm seeing collections that have strong elements that Leanne (project Runway) has been channeling. Exoskeletons, big pleated geometric elements - take a look at Leanne's collection on Project Runway when they air the finale and Christopher Kane's offerings in London a week later.

from Christopher Kane - photo from Style.com


From Leanne's Project Runway collection - photo from BravoTV.com


For my money, I like anything Leanne has done over everything that Christopher Kane has done. And, in London fashion, Christopher Kane is a big deal real thing.

[mardel]

Yummy! Pretty spring colors.  I hadn't gotten around to looking at London week yet, but have liked Basso and Brooke for some time.  This collection looks nice and some great ideas for inspiration here.

[appleannie]

But the last look in their collection - do you think this dart placement is deliberate?
 
Marji,

I'm thinking there was a model mix-up or this model was fitted while wearing a bra and left it home the day of the show.  Not an attractive look. It reminds me of a floral top I recently resurrected and began wearing again. I made 40 years ago so I consider it to be my very own vintage!!!  The French darts  may have been well positioned at the time I made it but if it wasn't a print, I wouldn't be wearing it today.

Anne

[Terri K]

Carolyn - thanks for the link to the Michael Kors collection.   Louise Cutting's upcoming blouse pattern (Ebb and Flow)  is much like the white blouse shown with the black/white check skirt.  I have some great white cotton jacquard shirting from Waechter's that I intend to sew one up in.   Then of course, there's my interpretation of the black white check theme that I sewed late summer using the new Shapes line and her ABO top pattern.





This is Vogue 8512.   The model in the white dress has some of the boniest legs I've ever seen.  Not attractive