NYFW REWIND

Last Thursday marked the end of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City and the last time the event will take place in Bryant Park, its home of 17 years.
More than 100 designers showcased their Fall 2010 Ready-To-Wear collections at one of the most talked about fashion weeks in years due, in part, to its somber beginning.

On Feb. 11, the first day of fashion week, the news of British fashion designer Alexander McQueen’s suicide shook the entire fashion industry. Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour release a statement calling McQueen “one of the greatest talents of his generation.” Curtains shrouded the glass windows of the McQueen store in New York City and flowers and cards were left lying against its walls by fans. However, the shows did go on.
The first show of the week was BCBG Max Azria showing color-blocked silk dresses, paired with white tights and black platform heels. But the BCBG show hardly set the tone for all the major trends that were to be seen in the days to come.
One of the biggest trends from the fall collections was fur. Real or faux, fur was everywhere from coats, to hats, to shoes. Oscar de la Renta used it as a hem for his vibrant jewel-toned skirts and coats. Thakoon’s coat collars and hoods were lined with it, and J. Mendel used it on just about everything.
While the fall collections were not without an abundance of the season’s traditional dark colors, there were plenty of graphic prints, metallic fabrics and sequins to balance it out.
Proenza Schouler showed pants and shirts with a paint-splattered effect. Peter Som, in his ’70s inspired collection, mixed and matched colors and prints that worked surprisingly well together. Diane von Furstenberg used vivid colors and embellished fabric in one of the more glamorous collections in recent seasons.
The final shows of fashion week were that of Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Both designers brought their unique takes on American style to the table.
Ralph Lauren showed his classic floral prints and equestrian inspired ensembles but with a bohemian twist. Floor length dresses were paired with masculine coats, multi-colored beaded necklaces and beanies. But the collection was still signature Ralph Lauren with its impeccably tailored separates and whimsical, country club sensibility.
Tommy Hilfiger’s collection was surprisingly more relevant and had a more youthful edge than his recent collections. There were sequined skirts and cuffed leather shorts. This change could be due to the fact that fellow designer Peter Som consulted on the line. But the change in tone seemed to be a positive turn around for the recently lackluster brand.
With the last two shows radiating optimism, change and a sense of looking ahead to the future, New York Fashion Week ended on a better note than which it began. New York Fashion Week will take place again Sept. 9 to 16 at its new venue Lincoln Center.