Diane von Furstenberg debuted a "Goddess" inspired collection at her show Sunday. The collection featured an explosion of strong colors, bold and imaginative printsâand the general message that this spring, it's all about strong and fearless women. According to WWD von Furstenberg's goddess is "an empowered, intellectual beauty" who radiates "chic practicality."
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So far this week, few concepts have been more classically elegant than von Furstenberg's hooded looks, which came down the runway in bright colors and were paired with John Lennon-inspired mirror sunglasses and electric lips.
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Only at Diane von Furstenberg's show would you see a human-rights activist two seats down from a movie star. Ingrid Betancourt, who was held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia for six and a half years, sat two seats away from Sarah Jessica Parker in DVF's front row. ( Betancourt received a grant from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation in March.) "Can you believe she's at a fashion show?" said Marie Claire magazine's Joanna Coles of Betancourt. "That's a very good sighting." Other notables in the front row included CNN's Anderson Cooper, Bravo host Andy Cohen, hotelier Andre Balazs, CAA's Bryan Lourd, Fran Lebowitz, and artist Anh Duong.
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At the end of the show, von Furstenberg took a lap around the runway with Yvan Mispelaere, her new creative director.
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Von Furstenberg's spring show, illustrated on a model board backstage here, included an assortment of colors in bold, imaginative prints.
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The all-American chic on the Tommy Hilfiger runway was complemented by a lot of sparkle in the front row. Jennifer Lopez, Christina Hendricks, Bradley Cooper, and Neil Patrick Harris, who sat together like cool kids at a lunch table, caused a paparazzi frenzy at Lincoln Center before and after the show. But did these celebs all just show up for the fun of it, or were they paid? âThat I donât know, that I donât know.â Christina Hendricks told The Daily Beastâs Jacob Bernstein. âBut there were a lot of them, so it would have cost a lot.â
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Tommy Hilfiger celebrated his 25th Anniversary at his show on Sunday night. But the collection he sent down the runway was an iconic ode to the two-and-a-half decades of Tommy doing what Tommy does best: preppy sportswear. Hilfiger stuck to the classics, like tennis sweaters, double-breasted blazers, boat shoes, and cable-knits â but refreshed all of them with a modern twist. The collection, of course, was cast in his signature color-scheme: red, white, and blue.
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Hilfiger took a victory lap after the show. After the spectacle, the crowd streamed across the plaza to the Metropolitan Opera House where they took over three floors of terraces in a massive blow-out for Hilfiger. Just after 10, Tommy himself rushed into the building and onto a massive stage to introduce the âsurpriseâ musical guests: The Strokes. So while the Video Music Awards rocked L.A., Julian Casablancas and co. rocked New York â their stringy hair and leather jackets complemented nicely by the crystal chandeliers and velvet staircases of the Met. Joked Casablancas: âItâs been my dream since I was a little boy to play at the Opera.â
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Good news for twiggy actresses: Next season's red carpet is all about shape. From draped fabrics to cinched waists to voluminous skirts, Victoria Beckham's spring/ summer collection emphasized curves. Among several dresses of gray, black, and tan, there were pops of color: bright purple and bright yellow minis that recalled a hint of mod. Beckham debuted her brand new handbag collection during the presentation, which consisted of six boxy styles, and each of her looks came down the runway with Brian Atwood platform pumps. "This season we really have a minimal aesthetic," Beckham said. "So we're really focusing on the seaming to help with details. I'm celebrating a woman's curves this seasonâit's all about shape."
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Beckham, with newly long locks, held an intimate presentation in New York on Sunday. She told WWD that the dresses-only collection was "probably the most directional thing I've done."
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Finally, something comfortable! It would be hard to argue with any looks in Max Azria's spring collection, which centered, above all else, around simplicity. Dresses were scoop-necked and ankle-grazing in uber-wearable shades like pale pink, cream, and black. A few modern swimsuits (with angular eyelets) were paired under sheer shirts and jackets. A few prints only found their way into the collection by way of tie-dye, and eveningwear stayed similarly functional: a black sequined tank-dress and billowing black floor-length frock.
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The rain that descended on New York on Sunday morning didn't stop die-hard fashionistas from donning their trenches and trekking to Lincoln Center for Derek Lam's 10 a.m. show. But once there, they were greeted by a strong and airy collection inspired by the American West. High-waisted jeans, suede skirts, gladiator sandals, and low-cut cream-colored tunics dominated Lam's runway. Leighton Meester sat front row with Harper's Bazaar chief Glenda Bailey, not far from Glamour editor Cindi Leive, who called attention to a new footwear trend: "Remember the âflatforms' from Alex Wang yesterday? (high but not steep platforms)" she tweeted "Derek Lam had em too. LOVE."
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Donna Karan brought a bit of easy, breezy girlhood to the runway on Sunday, where ruffles and bows contributed to an upbeat collection at DKNY. Solids ranged from tans and navies to candy-apple red and bright blue. But the collection also exuded a laid-back mood: Sweaters were slung around waists and printed scarves jauntily tied around models' necks.
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Surf's up: Donna Karan debuted a series of feminine bathing suits in her summer collection that would make any girl want to swim.
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It was all fun and games at Alexander Wang's blowout afterparty Saturday night. The designer, whose collection was met with rave reviews, celebrated at an unlikely spot: a parking lot. Wang turned New York's Edison Parking into a massive carnivalâfeaturing pork bun sandwiches by Treehouse Sammies, ring-toss games, and bumper cars.
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What's fashion week without a performance by Courtney Love, and what's a performance by Courtney Love without a whole lot of attitude? Love took the stage at Don Hill's, the hotspot reopened this week by Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny, an hour and a half after her call time. She offered a perfunctory apology to the crowd before launching into a rousing rendition of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." During the show, she demanded a lighter, threatened to walk off if the crowd didn't stay quiet, and, when she saw clothes balled at her feet, shouted: "It's couture, bitch!"
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Saturday night closed with a splashy affair: Zac Posen debuted his lower-priced line, Z Spoke. Celebrities from Claire Danes to Kristin Cavallari lined the runway to watch Crystal Renn and others model the youthful line. The collection featured several flouncy dresses, bold colors, and wacky prints. But it didn't fare well with all the critics. Wrote Suzy Menkes of Posen's collection: "Mr. Posen produced a series of clothes focusing on bosoms, with lacy and fancy bra tops competing for attention with brilliant blue, yellow and turquoise eye shadow. It added up to a collection that seemed to be trying too hard to be "original."
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