New York Fashion Week Recap: Pearls, Polka Dots and Prairie-Wear

Donna Karan, Fall 2011 RTW

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is in full swing in the Big Apple this week, and the jewelry hunting has been slow-going. In all fairness, ready-to-wear collections (vs. couture shows) aren't usually jumping with jewels - the past few years of blinged out bangle-wear and statement-makers were one big exception.

Now that we're headed back toward minimal, sleek looks - the jewelry is following suit with a pretty pendant here a well-placed bracelet there - and the surprise of the season: pearls.

Donna Karan

Like Giorgio Armani did with gemstones in Paris earlier this year, Donna Karan is doing with pearls for her Fall 2011 RTW line. Namely, designing their entire collection around a jewelry style.

Style.com reports:

"Donna Karan named her Fall collection Pearls of Wisdom and recruited Erickson Beamon to design the pearl necklaces that accompanied all the looks and informed the show's all-neutral palette."

Donna Karan

This isn't just good news for Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama and the rest of the DC ladies who lunch. Pearl strands are the perfect complement to any ensemble, and designers are getting creative with both shapes and colors this year.

I loved this Lorraine Schwartz pearl cuff spotted on singer/dancer, Mya at the Grammy's, for example.

Lorraine Schwartz cuff on singer, Mya

And here's a unique 'twist' on a classic from JewelClub's sample sale that's a wise choice for both the fashion-forward and the budget-conscious at only $67.60 (down from $199).

 
While polka dots (Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg) and prairie-wear (Rodarte) were the two big clothing trends to emerge so far, I'm going to declare 2011 the "Year of the Pearl".

Marc Jacobs

Diane von Furstenberg

Rodarte

What does the jewelry-hound peanut gallery think? Am I on to something? Or is this just a limited runway interpretation of an old classic?

Resort/Cruise Collections 2011: Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Donna Karan

More from the Resort Collections 2011: More Pink, Black & White and 70's GlamCarolina Herrera Resort 2011:
The Venezuelan-born designer showed light elegant clothes (yes, it's what she is known for) for Resort 2011. Every piece was perfect...well, perfect for a Met Gala Opening, perfect for the Upper East Side socialites--both Mom's and Daughters--and perfect for the wives of those Goldman Sachs bankers who need a little "something-something" to go out on the town in. She showed gloriously printed dresses-both gowns and cocktail styles, as well as bright fuchsia pinks, canary yellows (my favorite being the above off-the-shoulder fitted gown with side pockets) and yes...a little Black and White. I can JUST see the gown above on Barbara Walters, Nancy Kissinger or even Princess Letizia of Asturias, the Crown Princess of Spain. These were timeless, a little 60s, a little 70s, a little 80s, yet somehow still NOW and very chic.

Narciso Rodriguez Resort 2011:Narciso Rodriguez, also went LIGHT, for Resort 2011. These were clothes with a soft "hand" showing effortless draping. He is going beyond his "semi-bondage/racer-back athletic girl", at least for Resort. So I guess, his "woman" loses her hard edge when she heads to her Caribbean vacation next February. Standouts include this soft-pink suit (above) with a perfect shapeless blazer and cropped trousers; A little white knee-length wrap dress (love the shoulder pads and dropped shoulder!) with black waist-tie and..

This turquoise "one-shoulder" kimono-inspired wrap dress with contrasting straps and ties. These are simple yet stylish dresses that would still turn heads in St. Barths...or Manhattan.

Donna Karan Resort 2011:
Karan sent out her girls--with the hairstyle du jour, the "Slick Back"--with all the items Karan devotees want, including this easy-breezy jersey tunic dress with elongated sleeves (I'm sure those will be cut down by 10" before they hit the department stores kiddies!).There were also lots of glam gowns such as the slate-gray one-shoulder jersey draped dress above. There was a mid-70's vibe to her collection with hints of Bianca Jagger and a bit of Shelley Hack, the "Charlie Girl" .
The jackets had the length of 70's jackets, the extended shoulders of the 80s but those pants--and styling definitely say 2011! This is what you wear when you are invited to celebrate New Year's 2011 in Aruba with Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Beyonce, Jay-Z and all those Ukrainian multi-millionaires who are paying for your flight there.
Happy Resort darlings.

Resort 2010 Trend Alert: Bright Colors Are Back!!!

Edie Beale 2010: Terracotta Orange Trench Coat by Yves Saint Laurent Resort 2010

It's All About Color Ladies! Yep, Resort 2010 is looking more like a trip to the Bollywood movie set, as opposed to a trip to the Hampton's . Naturally, Spring and Summer are the seasons when designers add color to their collections (as opposed to Fall/Winter black and browns) . But even so, it is unusually BRIGHT.

Duran Duran Back-up Dancer: Cobalt Blue cowl-draped Mini Dress, from Derek Lam Resort 2010

Strong 80's colors, hearken back to the colorful dresses of Stephen Sprouse and the genius of Patrick Kelly. Pastel tones: OUT. Neon brights: VERY IN! Think Cobalt Blue, Bubblegum Pink, Neon Green. Looks like you'll also be needing a FIERCE pair of sunglasses to block out the glare from the women wearing these bright bold colors.

Garden Party: Blues and greens, according to Alber Elbaz for Lanvin Resort 2010

Bubblegum: "Barbie Pink" as shown at Donna Karan Resort 2010

Some say this renewed use of bold colors might be a direct result of the dire economic woes the world is in. Clothing designers are making things look "Happy Happy Happy", showing bright colorful coats, dresses, sportswear and trying to inject a bit of fun into people's depressed lives (Although I doubt someone who can spend $3,000 on a bright Zac Posen Apple Green mini-dress is having an "economic depression").

Robert Palmer Girl: Apple green satin mini dress with black peek-a-boo bust, Zac Posen Resort 2010

VH1 The 80s Are Back: Electric Blue and shocking printed leggings, Alexander McQueen Resort 2010

In all fairness, when looking at the collections as a whole, there is plenty of Black and the Neutrals are well represented. But BRIGHT COLORS are the real story for Resort--and the coming Spring 2010.

Will you be wearing a pair of neon kaleidoscope leggings from Alexander McQueen next January?

Fashion Week Mayhem - A Jewelry Trend Recap

Huge necklaces, bawdy brooches, layered chains and big cuffs are the trends spilling out of Fashion Week’s runways this week. The hottest designers are wowing critics with their spring ready-to-wear collections, and we’re happy to bring you a round up of the week’s best so far.

Marc Jacobs hit it out of the ballpark with his zany, suffragist, early Americana collection. His show was the talk of the town, yet editors and critics were clearly at a loss for words when trying to describe it. Style.com wins our vote with “Mary Poppins goes to Dubai” or “The King and I meets The Postman Always Rings Twice”. You just have to see it to believe it. Necklaces the size of small handbags were just one of many layers to each outfit, yet his little straw hats just might be the accessory to steal the show this year.

Donna Karan continued to take inspiration from the streets, as her DKNY collection featured the layered chain trend with her must-have basics. Justin Timberlake’s new company, William Rast, followed suit as his country girl meets rock and roll line used chains and big leather cuffs with their varied interpretations of T-shirts, cut-offs and boots.

Betsy Johnson’s flouncy, bouncy dresses were accented with a bow choker (another shape that is trending this season), statement necklaces or big bangles, and the Tory Burch show took the necklace-as-art look to a new level.

The hottest after party had to be for Marc Jacobs, as the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Winona Ryder, Sofia Coppola and Jessica Simpson all jostled for his attention – and a seat at his exclusive 60-person sit-down steak dinner at Robert De Niro’s new Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca.

To grovel or not to grovel…it’s always the question at Fashion Week. And 'grovel' is always the answer.









Donna Karan























William Rast

















Betsy Johsnon








Tory Birch