DKNY Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

It looks like New York-based designers are preparing themselves for a cold and strong winter regarding the major outerwear focus most collections have.  At times and temperatures like this, a coat is your outfit — just look at all the fashion-people bundled up along the runway.

There were endless excellent choices on offer for next season at DKNY, with a theme called New York Mods. Donna Karan did those coats tailored and graphic, like the black styles with a bold white panel across the chest, adding a little edge with leather sleeves. Toward the end there were knit puffers and furs. It was all sharp and suitable for everyday use. Same goes for what was worn underneath. Tough menswear in sharp, colorblocked tailoring mixed up with motorcycle jackets. Karan worked up chunky knits with a preppy tomboyish flare: bright cardigan dresses and stripey angora sweaters were worn with tailored trousers, tapered and flared. It was a cool and right on time collection.

Streetfashion New York Womenswear FW2011 Day 3

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-shoes, your latest Jil Sander-dress or that vintage Yves St. Laurent? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: New York Fashion Week.

G-Star Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

The new G Star NY RAW-collection was a fusion between 3D, craftsmanship, the elegancy of 1920’s city life and outdoor. That sounds a bit weird, but somehow the designteam of G-Star made it into a modern, consistent collection with a clean urban vibe. The collection also showcased hidden functionalities, based on 1920’s explorers mixed with elegant tailoring. Heavy protection-wear is back into fashion.

Highlights of the collection were the New Charlie Pant for men, featuring a 3D-shaped leg and extreme high back, originally to protect from weather conditions at sea, and inspired by an over pant, which creates volume. The padded Jade Skirt for women featured an extreme knee silhouette created for protection, whilst looking elegant due to high tech tailoring. It was combined with the utility Selwyn Vest, featuring a waxed finish inspired by early North Sea fishermen, who would rub linseed oil into their smocks for waterproofing and windproofing.

Representation of this Metropolitan Explorer theme included the Launceton Coat for both men and women, featuring a storm collar and the natural insulating properties of wool to create a weather proof piece, whilst having a refined tailored silhouette. The city camouflage modern geometric print in the collection also underpinned the core theme, as expressed in the Mackay Jacket.

Prabal Gurung Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

Prabal Gurung got the inspiration for his romantic-with-an-edge collection from Miss Havisham, the rich, heartbroken bride that becomes mad in the Charles Dickens novel ‘Great Expectations’.

That explains the beautifully made and seductive dresses in scarlet or blush pink with dramatic flaws: a ‘wrong’ shoulder above a full skirt, a black leather jacket contrasting with a lacy chiffon skirt, harlequin patterned pants, a juicy mix of red with pink. But also fabrics that were washed so many times they almost began to break down. Fur and feathers worked into the surfaces also gave that disordered look.

It was a daring collection, since Prabal Gurung’s signature seemed more the American sportswear-style. But the designer explained he was in for a new challenge and it seems it worked out very well for him.

Alexander Wang Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

The collection Alexander Wang sent out yesterday was based on thick padded ponchos, quilted on the inside, that looked as if the models had pulled duvet covers over their heads. All the lush, cocoon-y outerwear was clever, with hybrids of bomber jacket-turned-poncho, boyfriend blazer-turned-fur coat, and a tuxedo jacket with puffer sleeves.

Sometimes it looked a bit exaggerated and over the top, but that’s just what Wang had in mind. He wanted to make some fun of decadence and luxury. A key element of the collection was the use of technologically advanced fabrics that combined knits and woven silk in a single piece, the result worked out beautifully. But there were more materials he used unexpectedly: everyday fleece or techno Neoprene for elegant outfits, jogging pants in luxurious pony skin; and eye goggles framed with fur. Even when the clothes were relatively classic, like bias-cut satin dresses, the skirts unraveled into ribbon streamers to give the look a twist.

Streetfashion New York Womenswear FW2011 Day 2

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-shoes, your latest Jil Sander-dressor that vintage Yves St. Laurent? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: New York Fashion Week.

Libertine Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

Known for it’s sophisticated yet handcraft one-of-a-kind garments the Los Angeles based label Libertine sent out a colorful, artistic collection with painted plaid-prints on coats, blazers, dresses, tights and even gloves. The garments were pretty classic and chic – like short blazers, pencilskirts, dresses, tiny cardigans and coats – but the colors, prints and mix made it very modern and surprising. Electric blue, purple, fuchsia, yellow-green, red, orange and black were mixed together and made it into an upbeat collection.

Johnson Hartig and then partner Cindy Greene started Libertine in 2004 presenting vintage pieces with silk-screened graphics. After a few seasons of silence Hartig is back without his partner.

Jason Wu Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2011

The army of press and photographers at the catwalkshows of Jason Wu grows every season bigger and bigger. Since Michelle Obama put the designs of this young designer in the international spotlights, his shows are one of the most anticipated of New York. This time the setting was a runway made of gilded mirrors and grandiose chandeliers in glass boxes decorating the room. And it was the perfect stage for his new fall winter collection where baroque met sportswear in a very elegant, daring way. Lace never looked so fresh.

Wu’s polished and ladylike look had a more urban vibe. The designer put a big emphasis on tailoring. He opened with a charcoal gray coat flung over the shoulders of a cropped jacket, printed blouse, and slim black slacks. Instead of an average flannel coat this one came with a strip of black lace down each sleeve.It was followed by prim, high-collared silk blouses with frilled collars and delicate bows at the closure and a virginal white dress with dainty lace overlay. For cocktail and evening Jason Wu came up with his signature tulipdresses and ravishing columndresses.

Wu made lace an integral part of this collection. Sometimes little bits of lace were embroidered onto blouses or A-line, slightly above-the-knee skirts and he engineered it to look like a print. The designer went all the baroque way by adding dense clusters of colorful stones at lace embroideries, even the hair got a gold-leaf pigment. Black and nude were the main colors, spiced up by blue, red and green.

Streetfashion New York Womenswear FW2011 Day 1

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-shoes, your latest Jil Sander-dressor that vintage Yves St. Laurent? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: New York Fashion Week

Team Peter Stigter in New York for FW2011 Fashion Week

Hi everybody, the fashioncircus has settled down in New York and so have we. We’re staying at the wonderful Holiday Inn, that is: Lisa our photo-editor, Joris our dr Dot and streetwear-photographer and off course Peter.  Here’s our view from the rooftop.

We are really looking forward to update you on the most incredible shows, street-fashion and atmosphere. Together with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam, our editors Tess and Jetty we will keep you posted on what’s happening here.

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