New York Fashion Week was back again as ready-to-wear fashion month kicked off in the big Apple.
Philipp Plein, Anna Sui, Carolina Herrera, Laquan Smith, Tom Ford, Christian Siriano and many more fashion houses released their fall and winter collections for 2019, which featured bold colours as a common theme. Ralph Lauren’s collection made its mark on virtual audiences as Bella Hadid stunned the crowd in a shimmery golden gown as she descended from the staircase onto the catwalk.
Jeremy Scott, one of NYFW’s favourite divergent designers, chose to use “clickbait” inspired headlines from newspaper tabloids to adorn the Newsprint black-and-white collection. Scott said that this collection was a critique about the symbiotic relationship between content creators and audiences hungry for cheap thrills and the desire to publish uninformed opinions.
Phillip Plein’s show was reportedly almost as disappointing as the Kanye West appearance that the designer was conned into thinking was going to happen. A conman posed as a member of Mr. West’s team and tricked the fashion house into paying close to a million dollars to have West perform at the 2019 show. Plein issued a statement alongside West’s team and said that while there was no foul play on either of their parts, West would not be performing.
The replacement artist booked to perform was SoundCloud rapper Lil Pump, who sung “I Love It” in elaborate cowboy boots, neon green and leopard print. The event, assumed to be a lavish black-tie affair with a three-course dinner, left two-thirds of the guests cramped in a standing room while more recognisable names sat front row. The collection itself was a puzzling mixture of embellished denim, neon yellow plaid, and hues of country cowboy chic.
On a more positive note, Australian luxury brand Zimmerman impressed audiences with it’s Fall collection titled “Eye Spy”. The collection was inspired by New Zealand-born, Australian-raised spy, Nancy Wake, who helped thousands escape in Europe during World War II. Nicky Zimmermann said that the idea of a feminine, skill-full and selfless figure set off her imagination during the designing process.
The runway brought about a mood of secrecy, mystery and excitement through leather trench coats, military inspirations, and camouflage-inspired shades such as sand, ocra and mahogany. While the exterior was confident and tough, it was softened perfectly with feminine accents that are a classic tell of the Zimmerman brand.
Proenza Schouler returned to NYFW after a year in Paris, offering a range of ready-to-wear silhouettes for the working woman. Deconstructed knitwear, long silky garments and tailored trousers were just a few of the androgynous shaped items that took to the catwalk.
Brandon Maxwell’s line came in perfect time for Oscar season, with his collection featuring voluminous shaped gowns with bold colours, as well as slinkier, silky caped, high-necked dresses. Unlike anything we’ve seen from Maxwell before, the line also featured more structure and cinched in waistlines to flatter different figures.
Other than the beautiful collection, Maxwell also made a bold statement about diversity and the celebration of strong women. With a number of influential women sitting front row, such as Ashley Graham and Karlie Kloss; Maxwell opened the show with seven black models to celebrate women of colour in the industry.
Another game-changing runway moment included Prabal Gurung’s runway show that also showcased a diverse range of models. Gurung is one the few designers that isn’t afraid to make a statement about inclusivity in fashion, well known after he featured an all Asian cast for an ad campaign in fall 2018. The program for the show was sent to the audience via email to reduce waste and listed the ethnicity of each model beside her name.
The debut of Tokyo-based costume designer Tomo Koizumi presented an astonishing show, especially considering he was discovered on Instagram only a month prior to NYFW. Recognisable models such as Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Joan Smalls all hit the runway along actresses such as Rowan Blanchard and Gwendoline Christie to showcase the extravagant, cloud-like and boldly colourful gowns.
While the collection are not traditional ready-to-wear garments, the unapologetic daringness of the dreamlike gowns made for a breath of fresh, inspiring air during NYFW.
On the topic of magical runways, Lela Rose gave us the most magical gift by presenting NYFW’s first ever dog show alongside her new collection. Each model walked the runway with a furry-friend beside them, each look complementing the breed of dog accompanying the model.
The chilly New York wind didn’t hinder the much anticipated street style that inspires our looks for the rest of the year. While we’ve previously seen street style lean towards the commercial, this year’s street style has exhibited a flair for whimsical colour wheels and Manhattanite essence.
This just in: turtlenecks are back in full swing. Cosy, slouchy, chunky, knitted, draped, structured; this versatile garment is the go-to item for winter 2019. If glamour is your goal but warmth is your priority, layer up and follow in the footsteps of some showgoers by dialling up the drama when it comes to your accessories.
A bold statement piece is also lined up to become a winter staple, with stylish streetwalkers sporting brightly coloured coats with their looks. Big fluffy, teddy, and puffer style coats in candy colours were cutting through the grey doom-and-gloom of a New York winter.
As we take the fashion frenzy to London, we can’t wait to see what new streetwear styles and designer collections are in store for us.Take a look at some of our favourite streetwear looks and let us know which is your top pick!
What a week! We would love to know your favourite NYFW moment. Let us know in the comments.