Monday, February 14, 2011

Best of New York Fashion Week

Diane von Furstenberg FW11

by Grace Gordon

Welcome to the fashion frontier, where women disco dance in bolero hats and patterned jumpsuits and embrace glam in massive fur vests. For the fall season, DVF offers a slicked up 70s version of the urban cowgirl.

This is a heady collection that engages the senses with bold patterns, bright colors, amazing tailoring, and exquisite details. Showcased in a blatant disco environment, the outfits really blazed against a backdrop of mirrored poles.

Forgive the paradoxical nature of this statement, but ultimately, this was a collection of separates. Suit jackets, blazers, coats, capes and gaucho pants were the real stars of the show. Taken together, or taken individually, the pieces presented were wildly covetable and luxuriously appointed.

This collection eschews the popular trend of minimalism in favor of, well, maximalism. Everything we saw was splashy and sensational. From bolero hats and silk patterned dresses to fur shrugs and glitzy gold skirts, this collection is a treat for the audience. More than anything, it brings home the idea that after decades in the fashion industry, DVF has amassed enough skill and know-how to not only stay relevant, but to set major trends.