Despite a raging blizzard gifted from Ms. Mother Nature, models stomped the runway, critics peeped the delicious designs and fashion enthusiasts braved the storm all in the name of Fall 2013 ready-to-wear.
New York Fashion Week ends today after eight days of showcased fashion collections unveiling styles for this year’s autumn and winter seasons. Though a vast number of differentiating silhouettes, shapes, prints and embellishments were viewed on the runway, certain patterns and palettes were consistent among the designers: Greetings inception of trends.
Animal print
No need to stash or mute your wild side this autumn, it’s still going to be a growler. Big prints, small prints, tans, taupes and colored prints roamed the runway from accessories to sweaters. DKNY had a few pieces doused in animal prints, namely an oversize tunic length sweater in cheetah. Tracy Reese, in contrast, had animals running wild in her collection, from cheetah-print coats and tunics to zebra-print trenches. Get prepped for a playful fall.
Leather
Leather is bountiful in the Fall 2013 ready-to-wear collections. It has become a staple in many pieces for fall, from mere trimmings to composing an entire outfit reminiscent of the “Matrix.” Joseph Altuzarra and Prabal Gurung donned sleek leather dresses in each of their collections, and Rachel Comey, Band of Outsiders and Billy Reid all used leather to create elongated skirts. The fabric was showcased in black in collections by Charlotte Ronson and Sally Lapointe. Leather is dominant in this year’s fall fashion; don’t shrug it off quite yet.
Fabric blocking
With the fleeing of 2012’s bold trend of color blocking enters an equally bold and more sensory stimulating trend of fabric blocking. Skirts, dresses, coats and pants are composed of unexpected fabric mixtures from leather and satin to velvet and silk to the four of them fused in one article of clothing. Seen at Victoria Beckham, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang and Catherine Malandrino, among many other runways, this trend flirts with femininity and androgyny for a contemporary twist.
Sleek silhouettes
Get ready for a tightening of the silhouette. Fall introduces much more structure and sharpness to clothing. Skirts and dresses are elongated and sleek, seen at Reem Acra, Catherine Malandrino, Joseph Altuzarra and Alexander Wang, creating a very strong and slim silhouette.
Mixed prints
2012 flirted with the idea and execution of mixing bold patterns and prints, but 2013 will enter into a long-term relationship with the trend. Fall 2013 combines fanciful prints with geometric lines and a fear of nothing; it’s anything but monolithic. Catherine Malandrino mixes shapes with embroidered patterns and BCBG Max Azria layered printed and shirred furs atop patterned tunics. This season’s mixtures bring together ancient artistry and a contemporary ethos.
Deep color palettes
Colors are deep and rich for fall, nothing too ostentatious or deviant from the traditional fall palette. Think aubergines, deep greens, brilliant purples and navy interspersed among classic camels and blacks, favorites to The Row’s and Derek Lam’s collections.
Is anyone else ready to fast forward to fall?
