Celestial blues make a gentle yet powerful statement for next season. Pale tints that take their cue from sunny skies or limpid pools look even more dreamy in diaphanous nylons or fluid satins. Designers used these blues in head-to-toe ensembles or in clashing totals, as in a turquoise sweater with a pale blue skirt and lilac boots. For a contrasting note, a flash of goldenrod yellow brings in an offbeat accent to a crystal pleated skirt.
Scarves are the new “it” accessory. For resort there are all sorts of desirable neckwear items, from extra-long fringe-tipped sashes to narrow cravats and classic silk squares. Designers even styled with multiple scarves, as in a printed headwrap shown with a coordinating (but not matching) neckerchief. Most are silky but there are also alternatives, like a knitted sash or velvet bow choker with trailing ribbons.
Joggers abound on the runways this season. While some women dismiss the roomy gathered leg silhouette as being “unflattering”, the style is showing up on the street, and embraced by early adapter bloggers like Danielle Bernstein, known on Instagram as @weworewhat. Bernstein, an influential fashion blogger, embraces the new wave of the jogger in contemporary ensembles (as in the image above), or in the activewear looks she sports in dance videos with the @rickeysisters. Designers cut the item in a wide variety of fabrics and pant widths, making it adaptable for all occasions and markets.
Moiré, that weave or pattern with its distinctive woodgrain or “watered” effect, is making a subtle but strong impression for next season. Designers used it for matched sets, silky tops, lustrous pants and lingerie looks, as well as for footwear and accessories. The lustrous fabric lends itself to petal colors like pink and mauve, metallic effects, and constructions using opposing grains. Most important is a casual attitude, offsetting moiré’s formal roots.
Textured sweaters are all the rage on the New York runways, and look especially fetching in candy-heart shades like coral, cotton candy pink and Valentine red. There are creative cables, high stand necklines, rough topstitches and fat rosettes adding extra interest to cozy pullovers. Novelty sleeves continue to gain momentum and distressed details (like placed runs) keep all the sweet colors from getting too precious.
Elevated PJ sets are all over NYFW, whether in shining satins, soft velvets, or rich silk jacquards and moires. Mineral tones like burnt vermilion, raw sienna, malachite green and quartz pink emphasize the luxe feel. A slouchy silhouette, tailored stripes, tweedy coats and hands-in-pockets attitude keep these louche sets looking chic on the streets.
In the 1938 film Jezebel, Bette Davis’ rebellious southern belle character chooses to wear a red dress to the ball. Even in the film’s black-and-white, the rich gray created by the gown’s scarlet satin stands out against the sea of virginal white confections, and manages to shock polite society as well as alienate our heroine’s handsome fiance (played by Henry Fonda). All that to say there is power in the red dress, especially the ones on this season’s New York runways. While classic Hollywood may have provided inspiration for the plunging V’s and midi-lengths, the new fiery frocks are shiny, sumptuous and slithery, with asymmetric necklines or button-and-loop openings that give the dresses the feel of being caught in a moment of dishabille.
Dad’s dress shirt breaks free of the office and hits the street — sliced, pieced, cropped and wrapped.