Check out our slideshow from the runways of NYFW.
Metallics. Military cool. Earth tones. Color blocking. Schoolgirl prep. Fur. New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has arrived, and has proven to be a burst of opposing styles and edgy new looks. This season contains splashes of bold colors mixed in with dark, somber tones and slouchy silhouettes, as well as tomboy sensibility mixed with regal military.
The recurring color this season is one that we are all familiar with, as it is frequently seen on runways throughout the years. But this year's iteration of orange in a dark, grounded shade is a new favorite, and can be seen in J. Crew and Vera Wang's collections.
Other designers, however, have focused on darker, earthier tones. Y-3, for example, has focused on somber navies and pitch blacks, but the result is not at all boring. The usage of different materials to create unique looks is prevalent and definitely keeps things interesting and the audience on edge. J. Crew and BCBG have mixed colorfully faded silk, sequins, lace, and cotton to highlight the return of naïve colors in tandem with geometric, architectural sequences.
The edgy trend of 2012 is the pop of metallics and military. Badgley Mischka used leather to craft jackets and slit skirts. The luxurious coats are decked out in sequins and shiny metallics, topped off with fur collars and sharp shoulders.
Jason Wu, still coasting on the euphoria from his special edition line at Target, fashioned a collection teaming with green, black, and red colored pieces paired with sharp shoulders and big black belts.
Herve Leger also hops on the strappy, military trend, as his designs showcase distinct lines that are softened by fur collars. Almost each dress is adorned with a corset-like middle, cinching the waist and creating a different dimension to the clothes
In contrast with the masculine military style, Vera Wang has created a line with soft, see-through chiffon silhouettes. There is a definite feminine flair to the fabrics, and when paired with thigh-high boots and sequins across the models' chests, the look truly becomes a work of art.
Betsey Johnson brings a mixture of schoolgirl chic and bizarre, daring colors in her fall collection. Full of form-fitting trenches, patterned tights, and turtlenecks, the pieces are anything but quiet. Even though there is the reflection of the trending orange hues in her collection, she still stays true to her staple color: hot, bright, almost obnoxious pink.
This year's trends may not have been incredibly groundbreaking or unique, and the styles may not have been radical or revolutionary, but what is true is that the shows were full of comfortable staples, vintage inspirations, and a vast mixture of fabrics, patterns, and prints. The week isn't over yet. It will run until Thursday, February 16, and include designers Anna Sui, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors.
