What do animal rights protestors, the 1960s, 4D light shows and Britney Spears all have in common? You are forgiven for not immediately guessing New York Fashion Week Spring Summer 2015. This year the Big Apple certainly lived up to its showbiz nickname, providing us with our recommended daily allowance of fashion fodder and entertainment. Here’s our roundup of the best shows, hottest models and the gossip…
BEST IN SHOW
Designers combined fashion with theatrical performances at Opening Ceremony with the crowds treated to a play written by Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill. Dree Hemmingway, who starred in the play, which drew in Hollywood stars, said: “To me it was 10 times better than walking the runway.”
Ralph Lauren Polo stunned with a unique 4D holographic show of four storey buildings, projected onto water in Central Park. The new polo women’s brand highlighted the company’s innovation.
The Beckhams both featured this year. David unveiled his collaboration with the store Belstaff, and gained the accolade ‘husband of the week’, after Victoria posted a good luck card from the Beckham brood on instagram.
Victoria Beckham shows Anna Winotur her sketches before showing off her new shoe collection and her cute well wishes card from her family
Victoria Beckham retained her sartorial signature showcasing easy to wear coat dresses with hemlines below the knee. The designer “spice[d] up her [line]”, with floral prints in yellow and pastel. Surprisingly there were no stilettos in sight, as the designer revealed her first shoe collection featuring flats and winkle pickers.
J Crew, the only mass American retailer to show at New York, was inspired by South America. Featuring wide leg culottes, embellished skirts and oversized boyish jackets, the usual preppy line created lust-have street style looks.
Tory Burch, inspired by the French countryside, showcased shift dresses and patterned separates, perfect for office looks, in hues from yellow to magenta.
Marc Jacobs’ finale featured a supersized pink Barbie house, paraded around by his Brownie-inspired “fashion army”. The make-up-less models wore matching dark bob wigs and khaki shirt-dresses while the audience, including Martha Stewart, were kept upbeat with their own Dr Dre headphones.
This season included debuts from Miley Cyrus, with her festival style jewellery at Jeremy Scott’s show and Britney Spears’ new lingerie collection, Intimate.
Miley Cyrus, in her questionable outfit, on the catwalk with Jeremy Scott
KEY TRENDS
No spring summer wardrobe will be complete without a touch of floral, a splash of yellow and dash of neoprene.
As Hilfiger highlighted, looks are inspired by the 1960s and 1970s, with shift chic playing a key role. Utilitarian khakis can be worn by day and night, as shown at Rag & Bone.
Shapes are still feminine, with slightly looser and lower waistlines, to create a sophisticated slouch look, as shown in the Victoria Beckham and J Crew collections. Match your checks with your ginghams and stripes, as styled at Tibi and Altuzarra.
Bobbi Brown Tibi make-up face chart
Botanica blossom, pink with an edge, aqua blue and mint are all must-have colours, although monochrome and black still feature if you’re feeling less feminine. Play with textured fabrics, rustic weave, linen and embellishments to be on-trend.
Complete your look with a long braid or plait, add rainbow eyebrows and spotty talons, if you dare!
MODEL(S) OF THE WEEK
Finally ditching the fame-hungry Kardashian stereotype, Kendall Jenner was crowned queen of the catwalk, starring as a hippie at Hilfiger and proving she can be a lady at DVF. Georgia May Jagger, another rising star, walked to her dad’s beat at Hilfiger.
Kendall Jenner walking at DVF during New York Fashion Week
Naomi Campbell proved why she is still considered one of the greatest supermodels of all time, closing the DVF show. Meanwhile sports apparel brand, Oiselle took a risk, which worked in their favour, replacing models with real athletes.
Naomi Campbell proved she is still the queen of the catwalk at DVF
THE FROW
Demonstrating just how hot and competitive it can get on the FROW (front row), tempers flared at a Zac Posen show when a PR girl was allegedly slapped by an editor of a French magazine, ooh la la.
Rihanna was omnipresent (appearing at Alexander Wang, Adam Selman and Altuzarra). Other A-lits sartorial queens in attendance included Sarah Jessica Parker and Rachel Zoe at Calvin Klein, as well as FROW staples Olivia Palermo and Anna Wintour.
Rachel Zoe at New York Fashion Week
The Hilton sisters at the Diane Von Furtsenberg show at New York Fashion Week
Actresses Olivia Munn and Jesscia Chastain attend the Michael Kors fashion show
BACKSTAGE GOSSIP
Miley Cyrus’ nipple tassles at Alexander Wang’s after party and her staged hook up with the party’s host were the talk of the town.
Jimmy Kimmel once again set up the so-called style try-hards of New York Fashion Week. You have to watch this:
Words: Natalie Morrison founder of SHIFT Fashion
Main image: Tory Burch S/S15 show
