Amid the dozens of stunning collections at New York Fashion Week, I have finally pulled together my favorites. Truly almost every collection featured something I liked (especially the glittery blazer at 3.1 Phillip Lim, the fabulous array of slouchy trousers at Ralph Lauren, and those three fluffy dresses that closed the Jason Wu show), but for me these four were extra special.
Julian Louie has shown me the breathtaking power of a monochromatic outfit sans black. The sunset colors in his collection are gorgeous beyond belief, and I think the balance between body conscious and more flowing pieces is just right. Totally digging the vintage-inspired separates in the first two looks, and the construction of that little peach dress is perfect. The girliness of the collection is awesomely spot on: springy and feminine, but with enough cleanly structured pieces to prevent it from looking sickly sweet. Aces!
Chris Benz has created one of the most unapologetically fun and amazingly fresh collections I have seen in a long time. I adore the juxtaposition of elegant forties-inspired pieces (like that perfectly clingy pink dress) with the totally outrageous sequined items, and the fact that the simpler parts of the collection stand up to its glitzy highlights makes Benz's work that much more impressive. Whether I am in the mood for understated or grandiose partywear, something in this collection will fit the bill, which I think is a very rare feat.
Gary Graham pulls off the ethereal, undone Victorian look to the tee. The collection is gorgeous but not quite pretty, thanks to loose pieces and haphazard belting (not to mention those killer black boots). The first four dresses have a fairylike, wood-nymph feel to them that I adore, but my favorite look is the filmy orange corset and cropped black trousers. The riot of sunset colors and slouchy cut of the pants are the perfect counterpoints to the leather boots and sharp structure of the corset. I really love how untrendy and comfortable everything looks.
Rachel Comey is undoubtedly my favorite New York collection this season. It might not be especially groundbreaking or irreverent, but who says great fashion needs to be? (I know, I know, I am completely not cut out to work in the world of high fashion. I apologize for just liking pretty clothes. Actually, wait... I don't apologize!) In judging how much I like a collection, my criteria are stupidly simple: are the clothes pleasing to the eye, and would I wear them? In the case of Rachel Comey, the answers to these questions are both enthusiastically yes. I adore the pairing of tiny crop tops with roomy bottoms, her color palette is cohesive and lovely, and every look has just the right dose of hipster-granny quirkiness that I look for in daywear.
Of course, I loved and appreciated many of the traditional best in show. Marc by Marc Jacobs was kooky and adorable as always, Rodarte blew my mind with their elaborate conception and prodigiously detailed dresses, and Alexander Wang once again nailed the fresh sportswear with too many fashionable twists to count.
But here I would rather share the collections that fulfill what I personally love about and look for in fashion. Every single look I have posted above I would wear in a heartbeat, and that's what makes a collection a favorite for me. So tell me - what collections have you loved because you can totally see your own style reflected in them?
I might post some more New York favorites soon, but coming up next is my one hundredth post so I have something special planned. Stay tuned!
