New York Fashion Week :: Kenneth Cole [The ZOO]

Kenneth Cole Fashion Show :: Fall 2006

Kenneth Cole was daring on his projection screen - bringing the one thing that fashion has so far lacked, a sense of humor. Though we all know critics are full of hearty cackles, this humor was from the designer. Cole created comedy shorts about mock disorders - catwalking compulsively and a version of fashion turrets syndrome that forces Mario Cantone to scream the "f" word (fabulous) at random times, i.e. on the sidewalk when a dead body has just been found. Yes, we laughed, the photographers laughed, and some attendees laughed. But it must be said that some front row notables were not amused, bringing us to the conclusion that the devil wears Prada, but does not laugh in public. If this were an art project, and in so many ways, the a runway show is, then we would have to say Kenneth Cole had gracefully and successfully balanced his reserved fashion with his "anything but" video antics. But it wasn't an art project and like those dismayed notables, those paying attention to the fashion found the obvious had happened: leathers and army palettes for the men. There were several reinvented pea coats and a saturation of thick-soled men's footwear. What stuck out from Kenneth's senior status ready-to-wear line were the buckle front wool caps, the last impression-making indigo boatneck dress, and that ever-surprising V-neck velvet party dress in black and amber, or rust and brown.

While the only "racy" thing about the show was the pace at which the models were walking to dance rock and New Wave classics, we must say that charming and sincere man who came out at the end was just like his collection: true to himself and everything he promised, with no earthquakes on the surprise-mograph, but full bellied laughs the whole way through. Thank you. [Xenia Viray] more...