6 Top New York Fashion Week Shows

Unfortunately, the chic and cheeky displays of what some of the world’s best fashion designers want us to wear later on in the year have come to a close in New York. About Her has rounded up some of the most interesting runway shows and presentations the Big Apple had to offer.

Alice + Olivia, Bold Patterns And Textures
Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet liked Salman Rushdie’s “The Enchantress of Florence” so much it was her main inspiration for her collection. Elaborate embroideries and Middle East-inspired accents added to the glam-factor, along with several special pieces like an elaborate, high-neck, floral-patterned green gown and a silver sequined outfit. Bendet also paid homage to Sandro Botticelli’s “Primavera,” which is mentioned in the book, with a pair of spectacular silk skirts. The army-inspired jackets and distressed denim were another nod to the novel, this time it’s war theme. In all, the show was about mixing bold patterns and textures.

Philipp Plein, Sportswear With An Attitude
A lot of effort, ceremony and drama go into Philipp Plein’s shows, monster trucks and jet skis included. His New York Fashion Week debut didn’t disappoint with impersonators and hot ex-felon Jeremy Meeks’s introduction to modelling. Plein’s collection was sporty, urban, impressive and, of course, loud. Bombers and motorcycle jackets featured graffiti, while rhinestones could be seen on anything from furs to jackets. Plus, the German designer’s denim pieces came with lots of tears and sparkles. Skimpy shorts and thigh-high boots were also à go-go.

Calvin Klein, Unisex Sensations
Calvin Klein’s much anticipated show created a lot of buzz, as it was newly appointed Raf Simons’s debut with the American fashion giant. The collection, with its urban-chic vibe, had a lot of unisex designs, featuring muted and bold colours. Plastic had a big moment and featured in standout looks like the coats, specifically the plastic covered yellow-gold fur one, or the dresses with feathers on them. Extremely sheer or peek-a-boo tops and cutout dresses were other big looks for the Belgian designer, not to mention the square-shaped leather jackets, funky lined jacket panels and his ode to the Wild West, those steel-toed boots.

Oscar De La Renta, Fresh And Captivating Dresses
Oscar de la Renta’s show was quite rightly one of the most discussed, mainly due to the dozens of elegant, timeless staples with a modern twist. Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia chose rich and vibrant hues for their formal gowns. The cool day-to-day options included XXL coats and long, sharp-looking glossy blazers, sometimes decorated with fluid prints. A surprising factor was the colour spectrum, which wasn’t typical of the winter season. Even the silhouettes and cuts had a summery feel, with sweetheart necklines and one-shouldered or dramatically flared pieces.

Ralph Lauren, Timeless Sophistication
Even though beautiful orchids and abundant greenery featured in the backdrop, the sand and brown hued clothes spoke of a desert scene at Ralph Lauren’s second see-now, buy-now show. The weekend looks particularly seemed to come out of the Sahara. Some pieces had a rugged feel, like the thick knit mesh sweaters and formless blazers, while others were more refined, for example the silk jumpsuit. When it came to accessories, Lauren introduced a strong safari influence, including huge cheetah-print bags, snake wedges and audacious tribal necklaces. For evenings out, the designer proposed lots of shimmering gold gowns, elegant metallic cocktail dresses and caftan-style looks with decorated collars that stood out. For the finale, Lauren introduced a flowing, casual, floral-printed dress, which he chose to layer over ripped jeans.

Naeem Khan, Opulence With A Twist
Naeem Khan’s 39-look collection was a real concoction, blending ethnicity, urbanity, elegance and goddess-like power. He also chose varying shades like rich blues and reds, sometimes opting for colour-blocking patterns. As well as metallic refinements, we saw mixed leopard and floral prints and the silhouettes were a bit less feminine than usual. Some of the standout pieces included embellished pyjama-like outfits, velvet drawstring pants, a bejewelled fringe mini and of course, the finale’s ball gown fit for royalty, which he matched with a magnificent golden flower crown and veil.

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