New York: September 8
By Tammy Eckenswiller
Catherine Malandrino celebrated her 10th anniversary with a pretty collection of her usual artsy, embellishments and a lovely statue of liberty motif on a pale taupe sheath. Jill Stuart showed pretty chiffon and organza confections, dresses that were perhaps a bit too sweet until she switched gears and added sporty stretch leggings and a jumpsuit to the collection.
Zero + Maria Cornejo also celebrated her 10th anniversary (lots of birthdays this season). She played with geometric layers, hard versus soft, and colour blocking that looked fresh and new, especially in the jumpsuits. (Yes, we have seen many of those this week.)
Thakoon certainly understands the significance of celebrity endorsement and you can’t do much better than Michelle Obama sporting your dress at the Democratic convention! The collection was tougher than what Obama might wear to the White House but feminine still. A pretty rose-print dress and a series of slouchy cardi dresses were stand outs. Kanye West made an appearance.
Proenza Schouler channeled an ’80s power chick with strong shouldered jackets, a black jumpsuit, and silver sequined slouchy trousers. The twist was that most of the collection was white! Mary-Kate, Nicole Richie and Kanye lined the front row.
Marc Jacobs was so much fun! I followed a lovely Nicole Richie into the show. (She’s stunning in real life: perfect skin, big eyes, pretty hair and rhinestone hair band like a little wood nymph!) Paparazzi going mental while bitchy editors grumbled to get to their seats (ok, that was me). So much fun to watch grown adults clamour to their seats with complete abandon when it was announced that Marc wants to start the show! The runway was a wall of mirrored slats so you could see ghostly reflections of the clothes (and the crowd). The music was Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and the clothes were, well, many things: French, American, Mary Poppins, Africa, YSL, farm girl, gypsy… Layers and layers of Lurex plaid, leather, batik, all held together by thick Lurex obis. There were espadrille stilettos for Pete’s sake and tons of quirky bags! What fun!
Shown: Marc Jacobs Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter
Tammy Eckenswiller is a stylist in New York City. Visit her at tammyeckenswiller.com.
Read Jordan Porter’s Marc Jacobs blog (her first NY fashion show!)
