New York Fashion Week: What the modern-day society swans will be wearing for Fall 2014
Charles James Met exhibit
A preview of the upcoming Charles James exhibit at the newly named Metropolitan Museum of Art Anna Wintour Centre (née Costume Institute) with Elettra Wiedemann modeling one of his original society swan designs.
You’ve heard of the Day of the Dead. Well, yesterday was the Day of the Debs at New York Fashion Week. Bright and early, my day began with a preview of the upcoming Charles James exhibit at the newly named Metropolitan Museum of Art Anna Wintour Centre (née Costume Institute) and model/actress/daughter of Isabella Rossellini Elettra Wiedemann modeling one of his original society swan designs. Then, it was onto Chanel HQ for a viewing of Karl’s latest collection of couture magic (encrusted sneakers included), featuring corset waists fit surely for ladies who lunch… or actually who don’t lunch.
Up and coming designer Rosie Assoulin brought Charles James to Fall 2014 with her second superb collection of structural sportswear-meets-society separates and evening gowns straight out of this famed Cecil Beaton photograph. Velvet sashes layered over sweatpants! That’s how the modern swans do. And later that night, yet more odes to James at Zac Posen, where a teal panniered duchess satin gown was so glamorously wide, it grazed my feet as it flew past.
As for the gals with shall we say, more humbled existences, there was plenty for us too. I’ll be first in line for 3.1 Phillip Lim’s entire Fall 2014 collection, which blew his covet-factor out of the water with leather-trimmed shearling bomber jackets and vests, knee-length puffers and sequined bombers in magenta, lilac and other fantasy pastels. Tommy Hilfiger also served up a wantable collection of chalet-ready plaids, toques and performance parkas lined with shearling that would have been most useful for a day flitting around New York City in -7c.