APPAREL

To the untrained eye, it may not have looked as if much has changed on the men’s jeans scene. But for those working behind that scene, quite the mini-crisis has been taking place. With cotton prices soaring and the economy plummeting, this crisis has not been helped by consumer apathy. Jeans just don’t seem to be as popular as they used to be, especially with men getting more and more adventurous with their dress sense.

But a plan is afoot to save the day, apparently. The big players in the world of men’s jeans are putting together a huge fourth quarter push in an attempt to revive flagging sales – even though, in the bigger scheme of things, sales haven’t dipped that much when compared with other sectors. And the core idea at the heart if this plan is? A “reinterpretation” of colored denim and vintage wash jeans.

This might seem like a tired old formula with little inspiration behind it, but when you look a little deeper there is more to this sales push than meets the eye at first glance. For instance they have decided to concentrate on the premium sector, which has seen significant growth in and of it, and are applying mainstream market trends to that higher price bracket – which may not be great news for the consumer.

Some of the premium brands seeking to capitalize on this sales theory include True Religion, Seven For All Mankind and AG Adriano Goldschmied.

Handcrafted washes certainly seem to be the order of the day. Again. However, newer designs are incorporating innovative tweaks, such as one-of-a-kind shank buttons and rivets made from reclaimed tin signs – a feature that is really hot at True Religion right now. Other companies are also adding their own twists, with Seven For All Mankind also turning toward more vintage washes and away from the cleaner looks it’s best known for.

It may be less trend driven, but trends certainly seem to be the order of the day when it comes to this planned mini-revival. In the meantime, men can start looking forward to all of those out of season jeans that will be going for cheap in the not too distant future!

The end of Fashion Week in New York meant the beginning of another –– Fashion Week in London. As designers send their latest masterpieces down the runway we left here to analyze, compare and add some more trends to our grand theory for Spring of 2012.

Metallic fabrics are a hit on both New York and London runways, a bold statement for those who want an edge in their suits, dresses and t-shirts ensembles. On the runway we see metallic throughout the entire collection at Giles, on layers of draped fabrics at Todd Lynn, mixed with sequins at Sass & Bide and on shimmery skirts at Danielle Scutt. This metallic look adds a bit of fun to the designer’s aesthetic on the runway and a great way to stand out.

The tribal sensation that consumes much of the stores as we shop for fall this year is here to stay for yet another season. These bold, exotic patterns are mesmerizing on the runway are seen in a variety of forms in many collections, like the House Of Dereon and Burberry Prorsum. Tribal is also the inspiration behind a very futuristic jumpsuit at Peter Pilitto and the many party dresses at Matthew Williamson.

In both London and New York designers take the runway with a more sporty edge by using mesh fabrics –– like Alexander Wang, Vera Wang, Cynthia Rowley and Tibi had during New York Fashion Week. Wang’s collection most utilized mesh by threading it through his entire sportswear collection, and even on his headscarves. For London Fashion week Craig Lawrence did just the same as Wang, and meshed up his entire collection of long dresses, tights and cover-ups. In London the House of Holland also embeds a lot of mesh shirts and cover-ups, while Jaeger London plays with a lot of cutouts that has a similar appearance of mesh.

There were just as much of a tropical floral vibe in London as there was in New York. Designers like Erdem and Temperley London had flowers from top to bottom in simple, loose silhouettes. At Christopher Kane you can see flowers in a variety of different dress shapes and cut-outs. Ashish uses large, bold flowers to make a statement as Matthew Williamson ties light, tropical florals into his bohemian look.

And we can’t forget the snakeskin that seemed to slither down the runway in an array of different combinations. From the head to toe snakeskin jumpsuits at Maria Grachvogel to the snakeskin embellished suspenders at the House of Holland –– this is the “it” animal print for 2012. Designers at (TopShop) Unique and Fashion East also incorporated snakeskin into their collections.

Once again, Fashion Week in both London and New York has opened the door for fashionistas to mix-and-match their favorite trends for next Spring. And remember, have fun with fashion –– just as the designers do on the runway each year.

By Ashley Caputo  

As Fashion Week has come to an end we are left here to decipher what fashion will look like next Spring. For those of you who weren’t able to see all 300-runway collections on the catwalks of New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, we analyzed every piece of garment and created our own fashion grand theory for 2012.

Themes from Fashion Week this year include metallic, bright colors, tropical floral prints and various usage of peplum hemline.

To sparkle and shine, designers have mixed and matched (one of our favorite things to do) metallic designs with casual wear to create the perfect fun outfit. On the runway we see a high-waisted red metallic skirt for Suno, a sequined blue undershirt for Marc Jacobs, gold shorts at Cynthia Rowley and a sequin mini skirt at DKNY.

If anything has stood out the most for us this year on the runway, it is the play on bright colors –– this year has been one of the brightest in years. While some designers went for crèmes and pale colors, most went for bold, ranging from pastels to shades of oranges and corals. Alice + Olivia mixed bright yellows with black and white stripes, Nicole Miller mixed bright orange and yellow cutouts on a black dress, J.Crew combined a bright pink button down with orange suit pants and J. Mendel uses shades turquoises to color block.

Designers couldn’t help but to throw in the tropical floral prints that represent the warm weather of summer and spring. On the runway we see tropical floral prints at Richard Chai-Love, Tadashi Shoji, Bagdley Mischka and Jason Wu. Matthew Williamson’s signature bohemian flair appeared again on the runway, but he wasn’t alone as many designers begin to play around with different prints as well –– Altuzarra, Peter Som and Derek Lamb incorporated a flirty bohemian style into their runway.

Lastly, we can’t forget the trend from the 80’s that has crept its way back into fashion –– peplum, which is a short over-skirt or ruffle attached to the waistline of a skirt, top, or dress. This is hourglass look has been reconstructed by most designers on the runway to fit into their style aesthetic. On the runway was has seen peplum on Vera Wang’s flowy gowns, Thakoon’s Bermuda shorts and Cushnie et Ochs’s leather pants ensemble.

If you follow our grand theory we are sure that you will be ahead of all the shoppers scrounging to purchase what’s in style. Instead, right now you pull out your brightest colors, favorite sequin mini-skirt and floral prints so that you are mentally and fashion ready for the Spring of 2012.

By Ashley Caputo

New York Fashion Week –  or the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, to give it its full corporate name – is set to take place early next month, less than three weeks away now. The perfect way to ease yourself out of summer and into the fall, this season’s Fashion Week lineup is one of the most hotly anticipated to date, giving you the opportunity to catch a sneak peak of the top Spring 2012 collections from the world’s best designers.

Today we’re bringing you a New York Fashion Week preview to set you up for the big occasion, where we’ll give you information on the top shows, how to get invited to the main events and – most importantly – how best to dress at a fashion show if you’re lucky enough to get in!

The Lineup

New York Fashion Week has been going since 1943 and is widely regarded as the hottest media event in town. Taking place twice a year, in February and September, all the stellar names and upcoming designers can be found displaying their wares throughout the city during what is usually a hectic and exciting seven days for participants and attendees alike.

The schedule for this Fashion Week is jam packed as you would expect (you can view it in full here) so we’ve narrowed it down here to our top three choices, to give you an idea of which shows are simply must-goes.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG  September 11th, 4PM, Theatre

Around since the 1970s, the Belgian-American fashion designer remains one of the biggest names in the business, and rightly takes a prominent place in this NY Fashion Week lineup. DVF is worth seeing for her iconic status alone, considering she has been awarded a lifetime achievement award by the CFDA and has appeared as a judge on Project Runway. And, as her Fall 2011 collection showed everyone, she and her label are still at the cutting edge of fashion innovation.

TORY BURCH  September 13th, 9AM, Alice Tully Hall

Another megastar name in the industry, in recent years American designer Tory Burch has seen her lines garner huge critical and commercial attention throughout the fashion world. Despite the fact that her label has only been around since 2004, she has become a favorite on the sample sale circuit, helped in no small part by an endorsement from queen Oprah Winfrey herself. We can see Tory Burch being one of the big hitters at this season’s Fashion Week and, best of all, the Tory Burch label is based out of Manhattan, so it makes sense to support your own!

NORMA KAMALI  September 14th, 9AM, David Rubenstein Atrium

Norma Kamali is one of the most respected innovators in the entire design world. She was responsible for the unforgettable red swimsuit worn by Farah Fawcett in that famous 1976 Charlie’s Angels poster, which gives you an idea of how deep her influence on the fashion industry has been. Her slot in the schedule is not to be missed, despite the early start.

Of course these three examples represent a mere handful of what will be on show. Some other great recommendations we have been given include Cynthia Rowley, Song Jun Wan, Lela Rose and Nanette Lepore, so you certainly won’t be short of great fashion talent to peruse.

How To Get Invited To A New York Fashion Week Show

On of the top ways to get into the best shows during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is to put in some work. That is to say, to volunteer to help out on the logistical/administrative side of things. Similar to the Tribeca Film Festival, volunteers are offered free passes to many of the main shows, as well as getting exclusive participatory merchandise. Free tickets and free stuff, as well as a nice little addition to your resume – you can’t go wrong! Contact IMG now to inquire about voluntary work at this season’s Fashion Week.

If you are a keen follower of The Vogue City, then there is a good chance you like to blog about living and style just like we do. Particularly if you write for an established website or blog, you may be eligible for press credentials. If you have never blogged before, it’s probably too late to make a name for yourself in time for the upcoming Fashion Week, but who knows where you’ll be come next February’s show. Front row press seats could await you in the near future!

This is probably the riskiest one, but if all else fails, just turn up! You might get lucky and be allowed to take the seat of someone who doesn’t show. After all, not everyone who has a ticket is going to be able to make it. However. don’t just stand outside in a t-shirt, sweats and uggs – make sure you look the part! It’s by no means a sure bet, but if you’re really passionate about your fashion like we are then it’s certainly worth a try!

Dressing For Fashion Week

For most people, what they are wearing themselves is even more important than the clothes on the models they have come to see. We’re all vain creatures at heart after all! But seriously, what better occasion to display your superior fashion taste than New York Fashion Week?

Of course everyone has their own style, so we can’t tell you exactly what to wear, but we can give you some broad tips that will help you to get your Fashion Week outfit plans underway. Having listened to what some of the best fashion writers in the business had to say, we have compiled this quick list of tips that we think will serve you well. But remember, whatever you decide to wear, enjoy your time at this season’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week!

• Flats. Everyone recommends flats. Remember that Fashion Week can be a lot of work, especially if you want to see a lot of shows, so make sure your feet are nice and comfortable. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but make sure to pack a pair in your bag for when the going gets tough.
• Bring a camera. You don’t want to miss your big opportunity to record some great fashion week memories. As we’ve said already, pretty much all of the biggest names in the game will be there!
• Don’t play it safe. Be edgy, be unique – this is the one time when you can wear what you like and be pretty much guaranteed that someone else will outdo you on the eccentricity scale. Experiment!
• Some practical accessory ideas that keep popping up: Wet Wipes, an extra cell phone battery, a notebook (either the computerized or old fashioned variety), an unlimited Metrocard if you’re up for braving the stuffy subways – and a big bag for all this stuff!
• Whether you’re going for boots or heels, Preston Davis of Keep It Chic has somes great suggestions: “I have two pairs of the most perfect Jil Sander OTK boots with a low heel and my Valentino studded sandals, which are unbelievably comfortable.” But remember, don’t forget the flats!