Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week Recap…For Mainers
By Keriann Russell, Project Manager/Fashion Insider, MainelyMara.com
New York City. One of the fashion capitals of the world and lucky for us, only a five to six hour drive from Portland. This past September, the city embraced it’s most coveted style event of the season – New York Fashion Week. Designers debuted their upcoming Spring lines and showcased their inspirations and visions for the warmer months ahead.
Lucky for us, we had a fashion insider right in the city – Noelle Sciacca, Fashion Market Assistant at Lucky Magazine. After she made her rounds to some of the most coveted shows of Fashion Week, Noelle gave us the scoop on the fabulous looks that hit the runways and highlighted some of the major trends from the week.
Here are some of the big trends that recently dominated the runways -
Flesh Tones and Neutrals
Spring and summer next year will be no stranger to flesh tones and neutrals, especially those warm and soothing shades of sand, camel and ivory. Shows such as BCBG Max Azria, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Tibi, Rebecca Taylor, and Cynthia Rowley emphasized beautiful neutral palettes, and these desert tones gave each designer’s line a greater sense of luxury and elegance.
Opening of the Cynthia Rowley Show
Neutral Color Blocks at 3.1 Phillip Lim
White Looks
Many collections from Fashion Week consisted of mostly white looks; in fact, BCBG Max Azria started their show with a parade of 10 silk dresses, all of which were white. From whimsical and flowy to structured and tailored, each white dress that came down the runway had audience members dreaming of summer soirees. Clearly the white dress is a favorite from the runways and will, without a doubt, become a staple for every Portland girl’s wardrobe come spring.
White Statement Dress at the Tibi Show
Sheer Party Dress at the BCBG Max Azria Show
Bright Oranges and Tomato Reds
With the large presence of neutrals, designers enjoyed incorporating pops of color into their spring line-ups. It was the bright oranges and tomato reds that kept spectators talking long after the shows ended. These fresh, bold hues spiced up the runways in New York and can have the same effect on your wardrobe this spring. Have a little fun with fresh mango tones and vivid reds… and even sport the colors on your lips too!
Brilliant Orange Trench Coat at the Rebecca Taylor Show
Orangey-Red Trousers at Bill Blass
Wide-Leg Trousers
Wide-leg trousers are back and were seen on nearly everyone’s runway during the week. These ‘70s inspired bottoms are classic, sophisticated and a perfect option for office wear this spring. These pants can easily be worn from day to night, making the transition from work to Gritty’s easier than you ever thought possible!
Lightweight Trousers at the Tory Burch Show
Cropped Tops
For an edgy look this spring, think cropped tops! The first thing that may come to mind with this trend is intensifying your abs workout, but remember you still have plenty of time to prepare and can hit Baxter Boulevard now that the snow has cleared. More than half of the designers gave their shirts the shrunken treatment before sending them down the runway, so it’s official that the cropped top is a must-have for spring.
The Vena Cava Show Rocked the Cropped Top Look
With New York Fashion Week all wrapped up, I hope this overview has given you a preview into your “I-can’t-wait-to-buy-them” Spring 2011 looks! (A special thanks to our guest fashion insider, Noelle!)
Keriann Russell & Noelle Sciacca
