cruisin'

What I hate about Resort collections is that the clothing for once actually fits the weather outside -warm, sunny, tropical prints and fabulous swimsuits- so it is tres difficult to realize that the clothes won't hit the shelves for another six months. Regardless, I found myself in love with several collections. What I enjoy is that many designers are going away from a strictly vacation-centered resort presentation and focusing on the overall time of resort wear -November/December is a busy time, and many women are bouncing between end-of-the-year business meetings, family gatherings, and festive parties.

Designers like Derek Lam and Reed Krakoff, known for their downtown-easy looks, stayed within their niches for resort by focusing on urban staples. 10 Crosby Derek Lam, a diffusion line, featured patchwork plaid and cool, Brooklyn-ready Saturday night ensembles, while Lam's signature line dealt with a sort of "urban explorer" style. Krakoff adorned his boxy dresses with neon oranges and blues and glitzy embellishments, making each look worthy of a gallery opening. 

10 Crosby Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Reed Krakoff

Others, like Thankoon and Gucci, took softer approaches to their resort presentations this year, opting for pastel hues and feminine touches. Both used pinks and baby blues, but Thankoon's bold silhouettes and Gucci's straight lines all help to give these looks some teeth.

Thankoon

Gucci

Another favorite was House of Holland, whose quirky prints and fun takes on fashion I have grown to admire. Pinks and blues reigned supreme here too, but Holland went for a more playful look. Even a simple white shirt dress is livened up with bright pom-pom trim.

House of Holland

Elsewhere, The Row made editors swoon once again with now-signature straight-leg pants, boxy coats and jackets, and elegant drapery. The modest footwear and fabulous, streamlined bags will sure to be knockouts. A few personal favorites: the embroidered black evening jacket, the fuchsia velvet-covered box bag, and the plastic navy and black skirt. The Olsen Twins sure do know their clothing.  

The Row

 (images from style.com)

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NYFW Recap: Part 2

What started off shaky has ended as one of the best fashion weeks in a long while. We aren't even out of winter yet and already I am dying for fall again because I can't wait to see these fabulous clothes in action. There are so many things I noticed, so keep checking back for more fall fashion recaps. I plan to dedicate a full post to Oscar de la Renta because it was possibly the greatest show thus far. But right now here are some other shows that I couldn't get enough of.

Derek Lam

Derek Lam has been long heralded as the king of California minimalism and in a way I have always understood his take on minimalism much more than other designers. For fall he went for a very sleek yet youthful vibe that really showed his attention to detail. 

Tommy Hilfiger

For Hilfiger's "Town & Country" the designer drew inspirations from country clubs and Park Avenue apartments. The entire collection was pretty stellar, but what really got me going was the assortment of fabulous leather coats. The rich colors, the plethora of buttons, and the box shapes all made me smile.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacob's signature line was also a success, which I will most likely talk about later, but his diffusion line deserves some credit too. As a teenager I've always been a fan of the urban youth feel of Marc by Marc, and this collection was full of everything I love about Marc. And really, who doesn't love a girl in a dress and combat boots?

Philosophy

Alberta Ferretti is usually a very romantic designer, so it was nice to see her go back to basics for fall. She showed a true mastery of outerwear in soft neutrals that will be sure to fly off the shelves.

Proenza Schouler

After a disappointing spring show, it was so good to see Proenza Schouler back in winning territory. I loved the shapes and the colors and just the vibe of the whole show. And don't even get me started on that Japanese print. 

 

Thankoon

Thankoon is just so much fun. He really understands what the youth want. We want bright colors and leather jackets and fun dresses and he gave it to us. And really, who else could mix fuchsia, highlighter orange, and maroon so expertly?

(all images from style.com)

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