It’s always a little odd to be heading into one season while looking at the newest fashions for the next. Of course that doesn’t make Fashion Week any less exciting—if anything the anticipation of the trends to come is beyond exciting.
Even though the fun has just started it seems that many of the trends we loved in 2011 will still be with us in the spring…color-blocking (a resounding Yay!), mixing and matching prints, and lots of bright colors. Of course there are also plenty of new and exciting things happening inside the revamped fashion tents, which don’t really look like tents anymore. Small caveat, sorry for the overuse of “exciting” but there really is no other word to describe the feelings that come with Fashion Week!
BCBG Max Azria kept the color-block trend alive with brightly hued silk dresses. The flowy garments were pieced with multi-directional colored strips providing just the right amount of color-pop. Toward the end of the show there was also a hint of tribal print, though it seemed a bit misplaced. The collection may appear somewhat casual but doesn’t preclude the sexy with thigh-high slits, peek-a-boo shoulders, and chiffon pleats.
Asymmetrical defined the looks at Nicholas K. with lightweight jackets and shoulder-baring, flowy dresses chicly unbalanced (I think I see a trend forming). One of the most eye-catching facets of this show was the incorporation of scarves used as gypsy-like hair accessories and what appears to be a hybrid scarf/blouse/shawl. The color palette, made its way from varied whites to earthy shades of sand, greens that can only be described as mimicking nature—moss, sea foam, and pine, and ended aptly with head-to-toe black.
Vena Cava chose to skip the tents this year and opted to throw a dinner party and invited friends to model their collection. The collection is composed of highly structured pieces with a hint of the 1940s with high-waist pants, cropped jackets, and pencil skirts. The floor-length sheer-sleeved evening dress (shown above) is reminiscent of the cultural influences from abroad that accompanied the era—think the lead actress in a 1940s film jetting off to Asia only to return with this very dress. The designing duo Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayoc also continued the color blocking trend. Although there was much excitement about the collection, Vena Cava fans were even happier to learn that the brand now has a handbag collection with price points ranging from $275 to $550.
By Kristianne Young
Photos: Style.com
