Fashion shows are always late. But what happens when fashionably late becomes disrespectfully late?For one thing, it gets ugly. Just ask Marc Jacobs, who has had the unfortunate luck of being the guy who pushed the fashion timetable just a little too far.
When I first heard about this story, I kind of felt sorry for Jacobs. I’m usually running late, so I can sympathize with slight delays. But Readers, Jacobs was not just a few minutes late; it was TWO HOURS LATE!
The worst part of the story is Marc Jacob’s excuse for the late start. He complained to WWD that the delay was due to the fact that Fashion Week was way too early. (Instead of falling in late September, the fall shows took place in early September to avoid the Jewish High Holidays.)
My guess is that Marc’s cocktail hour ran a little late, and he just assumed (wrongly) that everyone loved him enough to wait around for his collection. But it turns out that the Marc Jacobs-pandering media can only take so much. As Suzy Menkes put it: “I would like to murder him with my bare hands and never see another Marc Jacobs show as long as I live.”
Heatherette runway shows are known for being over the top. Or as Heatherette designer Richie Rich calls them “Fun, fun, fun…”It was all fun and games at the beginning of the show — a live concert by 18 year old hip-hop star Lil Mama, and a star-studded crowd that included Diddy (P. Diddy, Puff Daddy … whatever), Lance Bass, and Bijou Philips.
The fashion show wasn’t only filled with celebrity “stars” but with star-spangled fashions as well. Flag prints, gingham, plaids — all very Americana, which was a quite a coincidence as the show fell on the sixth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. When designer Richie Rich was asked about the correlation, he said “It just worked out that way. We talked about colors and came up with red, white, and blue, then we realized that we’d never done an Americana collection.”
The collection itself was a huge hit. It was very fashion forward and fun, that is until porn-star Jenna Jameson took the stage for the show’s finale. Jenna looked like an anorexic duck! She made the runway models look big and that isn’t easy to do. Unless you consider not eating and getting freaky lip implants easy.
Even though the porn-star/model scared the heck out of me, it did score Heatherette some serious of press. So congrats to Heatherette. And to Jenna? Go grab a burger honey.
Rag & Bone began their company in 2001 out of the mutual frustration of not being able to find great clothes. They also felt that the way in which our clothes are made can be done better. Their goal was to create beautiful fashions that kept good manufacturing practices in mind. Practices that didn’t harm the environment and that didn’t compromise labor laws. All of their fashions are created with those conscientious practices in mind. Clothing designed and created with such high morals has to be good.
The show was excellent; beautiful designs, clean color palette, and gorgeous models (including male models in suits). The main colors in the show were black, white, and shades of gray (surprise, surprise). Rag & Bone did manage to add a splash of color with a bit of powder blue which was nice touch. There is definitely a black, white and gray color story trend in the making for Spring 2008. Many designers have opted for that particular color story so it is interesting to see how each designer executes that palette.
Rag & Bone translated the colors (or lack there of) in an updated-classic manner with suits and clean lines. If I had to give a name to the collection, it would be “Conservatives Gone Wild.” There were naughty boys in suits, sexy models in reading glasses, and neckties were begging to be ripped off. Of course all of this sexuality was cleverly executed, nothing was overly sexy but it just kind of worked out that way.
Overall rating: Is it hot in here or is it just me? A clothing line to feel good about, inside and out.
Finally some color! Not that I haven’t enjoyed the black, white, and shades of gray. But it was nice to see a splash of color, real color, not just a muted splash of yellow.
Cynthia Steffe’s line looked like it walked inside an ice cream parlor or a candy shop. The colors were just what Spring is all about; bright pinks, greens, bright and bold shades of blue, and corals. Of course, there were some muted staples such as whites and grays.
The fabrics and cuts were very “Springy” too. The flowing fabrics and floral prints brought on that very feminine and romantic feeling that Spring often generates. But for those with a wilder side (read Spring Fever) there are mod inspired block prints, sassy squiggles, and bold stripes/ color blocks.
There is a little something for everyone.
I like to think Cynthia Steffe’s lines are very attainable fashion. Women of any age could wear her designs, since they’re neither too revealing nor too dowdy. The cuts are very flattering to many different body types as well. The twin-sets are perfect way to fashionable and modest at the work place.
Overall rating: Love it; this is what Spring is all about.
Miss Sixty holds a special place in my heart because my very first pair of premium denim was by Miss Sixty. That blast from the past feeling held on pretty tight during the Spring 2008 show today in New York because I felt like I took a time machine to the late 70’s/ early 80’s. I know that Miss Sixty always has that sort of vibe in their collection, but this time around I was a little scared.
The most retro pieces came from the head gear; there were visors, floppy plastic hats, and rehab chic headbands. The headbands I loved but the visors I could seriously live without. They looked a little dollar store to me. The color story was also very retro, incorporating mustard yellows, browns, and navy blues. A lot of stripes and Missoni inspired prints were used as well to cast “that 70’s” appeal.
The cuts were pretty consistent with what is hot right now; skinny pants, micro minis, mod dresses, high waisted pants, tiny shorts. It seems that those cuts are just here to stay … so get used to it. Other pieces that you may already have in your closet that will be hot for Spring ‘08 are super wide belts, and they get wide almost reaching corset territory. Plunging V necks are big for Miss Sixty as well, so make sure your chest is looking right.
Overall rating: Meh. Good 70’s vibe which is never a bad thing, but nothing that I must have in my closet.
Nicole Miller has proven that yellow isn’t going anywhere. What was once just the “it” color for Summer ‘07 and a bold accent for Fall ‘07, now seems to have some real staying power in fashion world as it returns for Spring 2008.
Nicole Miller’s collection nailed the subtle and sexy sophisticated of the modern women. Her color palette had a mixture of what every woman should have in her closet; black, white, shades of gray, soft neutrals, pastels including a soft blue and splash of violet, and as mentioned above … yellow.
The pieces in her Spring 2008 collection were also filled with staples. Lady-like pencil skirts, high waisted pants, and blouses that will outfit you for the office. A nice selection of flowing gowns that would be lovely for a formal event and long flowing dresses in bohemian prints that are a bit more toned down. The military inspired jackets and walking shorts could easily take you into a weekend look. There was even a sexy little number; a black and gold mini dress with an open back that would work on a hot date.
My impression of the show was that it was versatile, a little something for everyone. Versatile is good for your closet but it didn’t quite read well for me on the runway. And on a side note, Nicole Miller’s models looked extra hungry.
Overall rating: I could take it or leave it, well I would take it if someone gave it to me in a heart beat.
