New York Fashion Week Spring Summer 2006 [The ZOO]
New York Fashion Week Fall 2006 Begins
The BUZZ
Fashion :: New York Fashion Week Scrapbook, Part 1
Introducing a new multimedia feature, the ZOOZOOM click-drag scrapbook. Explore the latest spring fashions from New York Fashion Week, move and arrange the pictures to create your own scrapbook then print your creation. it's a whole new level of interactivity, featuring Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Kenneth Cole, Bill Blass and many many more. Photography by David McIntyre. more...
Fashion :: New York Fashion Week Scrapbook, Part 2
Introducing a new multimedia feature, the ZOOZOOM click-drag scrapbook. Explore the latest spring fashions from New York Fashion Week, move and arrange the pictures to create your own scrapbook then print your creation. it's a whole new level of interactivity, featuring Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Kenneth Cole, Bill Blass and many many more. Photography by David McIntyre. more...
New York Fashion Week :: J.Mendel
J. Mendel :: Spring Summer 2006
The showing of J. Mendel's Spring 06 collection was nothing short of pure luxury. Gorgeous silhouettes that were reminiscent of something Grace Kelly may have worn, equally as opulant and stylish. The colors were cool icy blues, bone, taupes and delicate splashes of congnac and steely-aquamarine. It was beautiful. There were touches of fur trim here and there, but what really stuck in my mind where the beautifully cut evening wear and cocktail dresses. They were so lovely and delicate, yet due to the unfinished edges, they were not overy girly. These were made for a real woman and you could imagine seeing any one of them at a gala benefit or red carpet. No hip groove thing here, just solid, beautiful , gorgeous clothes for a woman of substance, not trends. [Kelley Quan]
New York Fashion Week :: Vera Wang
Vera Wang :: Spring Summer 2006
When you think about Vera Wang, you think, gorgeous evening gowns and wedding dresses. At the latest showing at Bryant Park last week,this still held true. However, I also saw a fresher, more fashion side to Ms. Wang's work that gave the collection a meatier ambience. The colors were deeper, the shape and silhouettes of the garments a bit more substancial. Bottle greens, black's and white's, grey were all strong color themes this season for Ms. Wang, as was the "Pilgrim" silhouette. Wide military-type ribbons reworked into beautiful sashes and belts were nice accent pieces. Overall, I enjoyed this show as I was presented with a collection that held some welcome surprises for me. Not that I didn't see classic Vera as well, but I felt this show showed a range I'd not seen in her work before. I hope that I have the opportunity to see more at next season's showing, as this one had mega-hit all over it! [Kelley Quan]
New York Fashion Week :: Heatherette
Heatherette :: Spring Summer 2006
In an effort to branch out into "wearable" sometimes its hard to view the Heatherette duo Richie Rich and Travor Rains as "serious" designers. With a knack for great publicity, they presented their 1950's kitsch meets 1980's beach party collection to an audience waiting to experience the infamous Heatherette spectacle. Models paraded in metallic dresses and wildly printed skirts, as well as some grand versions of a circle skirt covered with bunched and quilted fabric. With wild accessories, some serious gold hardware and over the top hair poofs, the whole look was a bit overwhelming...but break each look down and underneath the big hats and gaudy jewelry you could find a sweet silk dress or a modest quilted cardigan with just the right amount of appliqu?ɬ©. The crowd sang along to Ace of Base and Elton John as the stars paraded down the runway, and it was clear from the jeers and hollers that everyone who was there for an entertaining show went home happy...and excited for spring! [Rania and Meghan]
New York Fashion Week :: Libertine
Libertine :: Spring Summer 2006
For the Libertine show on Friday, it was about drinking old England dry. A collection combining Libertine's reincarnation of vintage and new looks, the Victorian influenced presentation was filled with pretty slip dresses, as well as layered printed versions in vibrant colors. Velvet jackets and tulle dresses displayed multi-colored Swarvoski crystals representing old English roses and skulls. Queen Victoria's silk screened image was placed across rock n' roll tees and skirts. With Libertine's quirky humor and eye for the old and new, the collection succeeded in creating clothes and an identity for its client, a fun lighthearted girl that brings the romantic rock star out in all of us. [Rania]
New York Fashion Week :: Nanette Lepore
Nanette Lepore :: Spring Summer 2006
Oh, Halleluiah! There was color, color, and more color and of course to go with the flow, a few quieter tones thrown in from time to time for Nanette Lapore's Spring 06 showing. The collection had some of her signature girly-girl silhouettes but with a bit more structure. The patterns and Guatemalan-style lace on some of the looks gave femininity without being overly frilly. The styling was sassy with bright beaded necklaces and printed belts. There was an overall, forties flavor to this collection, featuring nipped in waists, ruche dresses, and bold prints. All would have be comfortable on the set of I love Lucy and to be honest, I think that's when women really knew how to power dress! It was all shoulder and swish, movement and color. I loved it. The makeup and hair were perfect for the collection, with hair in a tousled forties roll and kiss curls, and the makeup in a smoky taupe-green and a deep berry stained lip.
I think a lot of pieces in this collection will be on many a fashion - girls hit list... including mine! The ivory silk halter with the striped swing skirt's got my name all over it.... [Kelley Quan]
New York Fashion Week :: Monique L'Huillier
Monique L'Huillier :: Spring Summer 2006
Think Jackie O and you've got a pretty good idea of the vibe of Monique L'Huillier's
Spring 2005 collection. Tone on tone brocades, corset dresses with netting, suits with cropped sleeves and shift dresses, all resonated this idea. There was one look that verged on a more original theme of a multi layered balloon skirt coupled with a sleeveless lace top was a nice diversion from this mainly retro inspired collection.
Makeup was clean and uncomplicated with a bright ivory on brow, pale face, glossy lip and full lashes. The hair was messily pulled back in a tight bun to show of the freshness of the face. The highlight for me was the white billowy dress with strappy fitted bodice and tiered skirt. It was lovely and girly in an unadorned sort of way. Overall, I thought, Ms. L'Huillier played it safe and didn't stretch her wings much but the highlights were strong enough to carry the show. [Kelley Quan]
New York Fashion Week :: Chaiken
Chaiken :: Spring Summer 2006
Julie Chaiken and Jeff Mahshie's 2006 Spring showing kept to their roots of clean, crisp lines and feminine silhouettes. They have followed a similar color palette to last season of Beige, ivory, white, black punctuated with red, chartreuse, hot pink. High collars on filmy, 40's inspired dresses, slouchy, wrap tops with tailored pant, a fabulous wrap coat with piping detail, looked sophisticated and fresh.
Makeup was bright with a touch of flushed cheek and hair was loose but pulled softly away from the face, think 40's but with a modern twist. The look worked well with the clothes, keeping the focus on the fashion than the makeup and hair. Their bodice dress in grey crinkle silk with bone cropped cardigan was a nice touch. I felt this collection was definitely for the professional woman who looks for classic, relaxed clothes. There was a light teal chiffon dress with a camel coat that was gorgeous and a great example of this. Their red taffeta dress with wide sash was reminiscent of Cybil Sheppard in the last picture show... and the low-slung skirts with shirred tops were great as well. The quintessential baby doll dress that seemed to be cropping up in many of the shows this season was there as well, right on target. This time coupled with a cropped aqua marine toned jacket and wide black sash belt. Their mixture of sheen and texture gave this collection richness and took it from being retro to modern. I like this effort a lot and felt that it was a consistent, bankable showing. [Kelley Quan]
New York Fashion Week :: Chado Ralph Rucci
Chado Ralph Rucci :: Spring Summer 2006
As New York Fashion Week came to a close on Friday, it was quite ironic that the Chado by Ralph Rucci collection was one of the last shows scheduled. Mr.Rucci's presentation gave us the strong reminder of what fashion week is really about, the clothes themselves. And among the far and few, no one does it better than Mr. Ralph Rucci himself. For the woman tired of retro, fairytales and bohemia, all the pieces from the Ralph Rucci collection displayed a deep understanding of the purity and beauty of clothing on the human body. These clothes represent what it is we love about fashion, the masterly craftsmanship, the painstaking details, the lush colors, and the ultimate luxury of the fabric.
In a collection of both ready to wear and haute couture, Rucci's pieces stemmed from a combined influence of nature's lines and the art deco movement. Dresses were pieced together in a collage like fashion with metallic placements. Leather was twisted and precisely cut, manipulated so as to look woven. The color palette was an intense of variety of orange, red, brown, and neutrals. Rucci's trademark funnel neck jackets stood tall like a piece of modern sculpture, yet never overbearing the body. The audience held its breath as Rucci's gowns came down the runway. The silk crepe gowns evoked a true spirit of old world couture. The long and lean silhouette was a powerful statement in response to the heightened lines and volumes displayed this past fashion week. A collection of true integrity. For New York Fashion Week, they saved the best for last indeed. [Rania Abu Eid]
Index [The ZOO]