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New York Fashion Week key trends and full show round up

New York Fashion Week round up

As New York Fashion Week draws to a close, we take a look at the show highlights and next season’s trends.  

The week began with snowfall and inside the Lincoln Centre Lacoste’s show was set to brace the elements as models in colourful ski wear looked ready to hit the slopes. Fur materialised as a key trend for Autumn/Winter 2012. Indeed, Helmut Lang’s show was clearly prepared for the chill as furs, so soft and cosy looking you wanted to touch, adorned body-con coats, loose knits and oversized sweaters.


The autumnal favorites - tweed and check were too clear a trend to surface on the New York catwalks. Honing in on this were designers Tommy Hilfiger and L.A.M.B, who both chose classical twin suits. Hilfiger’s skirt lengths were notably longer opting for an altogether more demure approach with equestrian hats and boots while, L.A.M.B’s collection on the other hand had a strong sixties feel with micro minis, platform heels and beehive hair-dos.

[Related story: The must-see shows at London Fashion Week]


Exotic and geometric prints additionally shone through as a top trend for the coming season as seen at BCBG MaxAzria who presented ‘An Artful Proposition’ for Autumn/Winter 2012. Continuing with the labels bold geometric prints and colour blocking signature, BCBG MaxAzria’s shift dresses, flowing pleated skirts, tunics and wide-legged trousers made for an altogether excellently executed collection.

Other designers to focus on prints this season included Costello Tagliapietra, Edun and Altuzarra. Tagliapietra’s coral dresses had the crowd dreaming of tropical places as did Edun’s jungle-inspired colourful prints, while Altuzarra’s draped jersey Moroccan carpet print dresses paid homage to his breakout cocktail numbers from his earlier shows.


In contrast, monotone continues to dominate the trends. Amongst others showcasing a monotone palette was designer Diane Von Furstenberg who presented ‘Rendezvous’ otherwise summed up in the show notes as “glamorous at a moments notice.” A collection that oozed glamour and Diane’s classic wrap dresses, it was the bold colour palette however that had people talking at the finale.

[Related gallery: Memorable Fashion Week moments]

Designer Doo.Ri opted for uniform colour, with slate and smoky grey prevailing. As models Alexa Chung and Coco Rocha were spotted on the front rows, also nodding to next season’s pantone.  Luxe embellishments from Jason Wu marked Autumn/Winter 2012 eveningwear trends.

Presenting luxurious oriental designs on evening dresses, like Wu over on the Jill Stuart catwalk, rich-floral lace decorated prim-collar peplum tops and oversized schoolgirl peacoats.  Classic black didn’t fail to surface either. Fashion’s continual love affair with black was seen at Victoria Beckham’s show with the LBD summing up her collection with the occasional pop of colour being thrown in.


Similarly at Cushie Et Ochs, the range was largely black, with metallic and silvers occasionally shining through in the form of body-con dresses. While at Alexander Wang a dark colour palette was juxtaposed with crisp whites with a strong focus on outerwear.

Featuring Matrix style leather coats and angular suits, it had a distinct masculine edge, with the fringed shirts lending to a feminine touch.

With some of the industry's top models hitting the Wang catwalk this season including Gisele Bundchen, Shalom Harlow, Joan Smalls and Natasha Poly, Alexander’s striking celeb filled show was a hard act to follow.  Finally, in true American style DKNY’s youthful catwalk complete with yellow New York cab and the Big Apple’s skyline offered next season’s preppy look. A light-hearted show, DKNY provided a fun element to the otherwise chilling Autumn/Winter 2012 schedule for NYC.

Over to London.