Turn to the Left: Fashion Week Returns

Rag and Bone
Upon entering the Rag & Bone show at Cipriani, I was greeted by servers doling out drinks and free hair-care products from John Frieda. Guests ranging from Kate Bosworth and Amanda Peet to Cory Kennedy lined the runway before the show even began. The collection itself gave a modern New York twist to safari-wear. The tan and khaki hues in jackets, blazers, and pants for both men and women seemed a fashionable take on the uniforms of park rangers. As in past collections, menswear and womenswear blended together to produce unisex blazers, vests, and button-down shirts. All the looks were worn by bronzed and glowing models, who gave a decidedly youthful and playful image to the collection. Philip Lim commented on David Wainwright and Marcus Neville, the duo behind the collection: “They are great guys, and it comes across in their collection. Good energy, good vibes.”

Erin Fetherston
Though there was no song and dance from Zooey Deschanel this time around, Erin Fetherston did not disappoint with her spring collection. Everyone’s favorite girly-girl sent out flutters of ethereal fabrics in white, silver, and light blue that were pleated, ruffled, and buttoned to perfection. Every look was loose and easy; even the usual prim and slim high-waisted menswear trousers and shorts seemed to take a fairytale spin and float down the runway. True to form, Fetherston’s tops were finished off with big satin bows and evening dresses that were made up of layer upon layer of chiffon. The sweetest part of the show had to be the white coral and feather hairpieces that playfully adorned the models’ heads, appearing almost as if they had materialized by accident while the models were swimming through the ocean or climbing a tree in an airy Fetherston frock. In Erin’s dream-like world, it wouldn’t be hard to believe.

BCBG
This season, Max Azria shuns the usual soft pinks of spring and goes for something darker, much like the music of good-girl-gone-bad Lily Allen playing overhead. Models donned mid-length gray-and-blue chiffon dresses belted at the waist in shades of marigold, white, and brown. However, the predominant color was gray, ranging in hue from light to dark, while brighter shades slowly emerged in blooms of black and pink. Built for the sophisticated urbanite, the grimy uniform of spring in a city that chooses to keep it dark year-round would probably fall flat on front-row attendees Ashlee Simpson and Ciara.

Yigal Azrouel
Yigal Azrouel makes clothes for the body-conscious woman, so it’s no surprise that he deemed baby doll dresses the first spring trend to die. In its place, Azrouel offered slim jersey dresses draped, tapered, and adorned with jewels paired with slouchy bucket hats or wide-brimmed beach hats playfully shortened in the back. Adhering to the surf-chic, beach-sexy aesthetic was a short, sequined dress shimmering in juniper and a casual white button-down rolled up at the sleeves and open at the chest. Men can rejoice at shortened cotton trenches paired with tees light enough to swim in, though a full-body jumpsuit, more mechanic shop than surf shop, did seem off in a sea of clothes just begging for some sun.