It’s about time. Now that the heat wave has finally broken, we can actually start thinking about fall and contemplating our purchases for the cooler days ahead. And let us not forget that if it’s mid August, that means fashion magazines’ biggest issue, September, will also soon be hitting the newsstands. I found yesterday’s The New York Post’s roundup, “The foul and the fabulous”, which rated the glossies with “air kisses” to be catty yet somehow entertaining to say the least.
For the record, they gave Vogue, featuring Sara Jessica Parker on the cover, the highest rating (5 air kisses) and Harper’s Bazaar, the least (one air kiss). They did admit that cover girl Demi Moore was the best thing about the issue but complained about Bazaar’s “mind-numbingly dumb story” on “Rules for Wearing Black” as well as a portfolio featuring a faux Camilla Parker Bowles (who they said looked like a “man in drag”). Ouch!
But more importantly, with September fast approaching, that also means New York Fashion Week for spring 2006! If you’re like me, you’re undoubtedly curious about what it is designers will unveil on the runways and in their showrooms in less than 30 days.
I have asked a group of some of New York’s most highly respected names in fashion (designers and retailers), to give me some thoughts on next season. This is the first installment and I will continue to add more as I get the information.
Einar Holilokk, Head of Design, Geoffrey Beene: ” The collection is quite seductive and sumptuous. I have used fabrics such as printed silk cloque, metallic linen and double faced charmeuse. Some of the colors I refer to a liquid black, inky violet and vibrant pink. The silhouette remains slender off-set by a voluminous taffeta wrap, a stand away collar or body caressing folds.”
Joan Kaner, Senior Vice President, Fashion Director, Neiman Marcus: “Volume, especially in skirts, and femininity continues for spring ’06. Floral prints are everywhere. As to color, early spring collections have lots of white, beige, khaki, navy (often mixed with white and red for nautical looks), shades of green from pale to deepest forest, and pinks now have a mauve cast and are still prevalent.
The walking short, cropped pants in all lengths, and for longer trousers a dropped waist and wide-legged fullness look newest”.
Sandra Wilson, Accessories Fashion Director, Neiman Marcus: “So far thoughts from reviewing the shoe market: gold metallics are the strongest…all shades of beige to dark brown…navy, and red that we have not addressed in awhile….Still lots of white…flats, thongs, wedges, lower look newer…pale aqua, a grey blue, and a pink lavender…seeing crochet accents, woods.”
– Marilyn Kirschner
Personally I think that white is over-rated. You are 67% more likely to spill something on a white shirt than any other color. Also bright colors are much more fun to mix and match (and get attention)! Furthermore it is perfectly fine to go against the fashion flow (it shows that you are independent).