Anne Valerie Hash

Gareth Pugh

Rochas

Today was the first day of the ready-to-wear shows for Paris Fashion Week.  Being the first day, it may be too early to spot trends, but I am taking notice of the colors for spring thus far.  A  few collections have color palettes that are more reminiscent of fall.  Rochas had colors like burnt orange, deep burgundy and brown.  Gareth Pugh’s collection offered a sea of gray in various shades, this was in contrast to the mostly white collection he showed for spring 2009.  Anne Valerie Hash departed from the soft neutral color palette of spring 2009 and opted for more charcoal grays and blacks this season.  Is this the trend for Paris next spring?  The answer will unfold in the next day or two.

The Jil Sander line, +J, is almost here, it arrives at Uniqlo on Thursday, October 1st.  When the two decided to team up for womens, mens and accessories it was simply genius. Jil Sander is best known for it’s minimalist aesthetic and Uniqlo is known for its affordable prices, the two together created magic.  One of the best part of this collaboration is that no one item will exceed $150; that’s good news for the pocketbook.  The collection will practically walk off the racks.  If you want a look at what’s in store for you on Thursday, click here.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes because you might be standing on line.  You can also shop online if you do not want to brave the crowds.

Karate was the inspiration for the spring 2010 collection at Bottega Veneta.  The casual ease is evident in the pieces.  I know that we throw the word ‘chic’ around quite casually during these fashion weeks, but this collection is the epitome of the word.  A chic woman is effortless in her style; it appears as if she just threw something on, but her fantastic style always comes through.   The shapes were so beautiful, and the colors ranged from the purest white to the rich and saturated burgundy.  The Bottega Veneta woman will be very sophisticated come spring.

The Alberta Ferretti runway show was heavenly.  The fabrics were sheer and the dresses were ultra feminine.  It was a beautiful collection done in the prettiest neutrals.  There were sufficient prints and patterns to keep the collection interesting.  All in all it was  very cohesive, and each piece related to the other perfectly.  The Alberta Ferretti woman will be very lady-like and refined come spring time.  Some of the pieces along with hair and make-up reminded me of Grace Kelly, especially this look.  The collection was one of the more grown up collection I’ve seen this season, and it should be applauded.  Prior to the start of the fashion weeks, I thought I wanted to see tons of color, but a well thought out and executed collection has put that to rest.  Click here to view the entire collection.

The collection was classic Armani with a twist, beautiful vibrant colors with a fresh and youthful spin.  He threw in hues of blues, greens and pinks.   One could easily see Rihanna in many of the pieces in the collection, including this look.  I definitely got the feeling of a more relaxed Armani, and it was wonderful.  It’s as though Mr. Armani has declared an end to the recession, and decided it was now a time for celebration.  He offfered several alternatives in dresses and tops, from the one shoulder, the strapless, to the deep plunging V.  Oh, did I mention the accessories?  They were sparkly and fun like many of the pieces in the collection.  I’m so loving the flats for spring, it’s almost as if the designers have read our minds.  We want chic served with a side of comfort.

Burberry revealed a collection of yummy trenches for spring 2010.  They were chic, short and feminine.  The lavendar trench with the ruching in the shoulders and arms was to die for.  The proportions of the coats are visually stimulating; there’s so much to look at, without being fussy or overdone.  The nude colored trench with ruching throughout was so lovely that it could be worn as a belted mini dress.  Then there was the metallic trench with the slightly scalloped edges and pockets.  The silver trench with the ruching on the sides was so demure and sweet, with a side of sexy.  These jackets are not your mother’s trenches, and that may be a good thing.  We all know that Burberry will never fully depart from the plaid for which this house is famous, but it’s great to see a willingness to embrace change.  We’re only days into fall, but I’m already counting the days to spring, and um, rain?

Yesterday was all about the metallics at the Emmys, but I could not let this dress go by unacknowledged.  To borrow the line from “Jerry Maguire”, ‘[it] had me at hello.”  The dress made its red carpet appearance on actress Jennifer Carpenter of “Dexter”.  What’s not to love about this gown?  It’s sexy and feminine; I think of romance in Paris whenever I look at it.  The combination of the nude chiffon and beautiful beading throughout the dress is perfection.  Might I also add that the vertical placement of the beading around the thigh is quite slimming.  The gown is a Zuhair Murad creation.

Fern Mallis, VP IMG Fashion, Fashion Week Spring 2010

I really hate break-ups, but I do believe that we’ve reached the end of the road.  The stylish and fashionable have left the building, um, the tents at Bryant Park.  The tents been removed, and we will never again assemble there for New York Fashion Week.  The next time this set gets together, it will be at Lincoln Center, the new home of fashion week.  Fern Mallis is the organizer of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and she scouted locations for years until they decided on the new venue.  While we had a great time at Bryant Park, I predict that we’ll make new and better memories at Lincoln Center.

Fashion's Night Out, Macy's

Fashion’s Night Out makes our Rollcall list this week because it included the average consumer in on a mostly industry event.  The shows were great; we were treated to a bevy of beautiful collections, but Fashion’s Night Out was undoubtly the most exciting part of New York Fashion Week Spring 2010.  It was so successful that CFDA President, Diane Von Furstenberg has plans to make it a regular part of Fashion Week.  The evening generated great buzz and excitement for the entire week.  It would not be surprising if that evening has created enough goodwill with the consumer that it could be recouped throughout the Holiday Season.  The consumer has a longer memory than they are often given credit for, and they are more loyal as well.  The fashion industry gave back to the community last Thursday evening, and it will be rewarded.

Related Posts: Fashion’s Night Out in the City; Rachel Roy Showcases Her ‘Rachel Rachel Roy’ Line.