Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week–Day 3

I knew that yesterday’s shows were going to be a tough act to follow, but I wasn’t expecting the disappointment that I felt today from the designer’s collections. Maybe the bar was set too high in the first couple of days, or maybe my expectations of fashion are just unrealistic, but I felt like most of what I saw today was just not up to par. There were a few shining stars, however, especially Christian Siriano, winner of Season 4 of Project Runway who turned out to have the best collection of the entire day in my opinion. The rest of what I saw was either mediocre, confusing, or just plain bad.

Let me break it down…

The Good:

Christian Siriano

What I loved: Siriano’s collection was the epitome of chic–clean lines, flattering fits, thoughtful color palette. It was all so wearable and appealing. I think that every woman would want to wear the looks that come down the runway, because they were all so elegant and classic. I loved the long maxi skirts that appeared at the beginning of the show. Maxi skirts in a solid bright color like Siriano used could be a difficult item to wear without it looking ill-proportioned, but the wide, shiny leather belts at the natural waistline balanced the heavy hemline of the skirt perfectly. I also loved the color palette. Siriano stuck with white and beige (or at least it looks beige in the photos!) for the neutrals and used splashes of red, salmon, and electric yellow. I have been drawn to that color of yellow lately, and I was so happy to see it used here. Also, I can’t forget to mention the use of texture–the collection really had so much dimension because of the different textures that were used throughout.

One of my favorite looks, pictured below, is the cropped pants with the white sleeveless blouse with an attached capelet. Capes and ponchos are back, and I really like this playful way of incorporating the trend in a more modern and chic way.

Vivienne Tam

What I loved: If I had to choose a runner-up for the day, it would be Vivienne Tam. I loved the classic silhouettes and the vintage feel of her pieces. Her use of color was impeccable–I absolutely loved the bright red that appeared early on in the collection. I found Tam’s garments to be unique and interesting, and loved the graphic/organic feel of the trim she used in several of the pieces, which also incorporated cutouts. The attention to detail is what really put this collection over the top. Also, take note of how she mixed prints in separates. Mixing prints is a hard look to pull off, but Tam’s styling was beautiful.

The Bad:

Jill Stuart

What were they thinking?: Ok, to be fair, Stuart’s whole collection wasn’t awful. In fact, I thought it started off quite strong, with a bold red a white color-blocked silk dress demading attention. I loved the geometric feel of the first couple of pieces. But then the color began to transition into this pepto-bismol pink, causing the strong, powerful feel of the collection to become weak and sickly. The only other thing that I can think to compare this color of pink to is those dental molds that you see every six months displayed proudly around the room as you’re getting your teeth cleaned. But the color wasn’t the only thing that ruined this collection for me. I had truly had enough when I saw the baby pink underwear/tankini combo. This had to be the biggest “what were they thinking?” moment of the whole day. Did Jill Stuart just wake up one morning and think to herself, “I think a baby-pink onesie would be a great look for the modern woman”. If she did, she was totally wrong! Between the color of the garment and that little bow around the waist, the only thing that this model is missing is her teddy bear and pacifier. And another thought, why has the world decided that it is going to now be socially acceptable NOT to wear pants??? I’m sorry, but this is worse than the Kesha-blue lips yesterday. A note to the public: please stop getting your fashion tips from pop stars who dress in costumes!

ADAM

What were they thinking?: This collection had a lot of potential, but in my opinion, it just had poor execution. I liked the idea of where this was going. The silhoettes were reminiscent of the 1950s, as were the garments. However, the overall look came off more as frumpy 1950s housewife than vintage-modern chic. My other criticism of this collection is that many of the pieces felt a little too juvevile due to the style of the garment in relation to its color/pattern. Like Jill Stuart, this collection wasn’t completely terrible throughout. I did see some great pieces pepperd throughout, for example, the gray shift dress that appeared midway through the show. I just didn’t feel that the styling was the best. And the biggest “what were they thinking” moment of this collection–the bright red marching band jacket. I just didn’t get it.

The Ugly:

Ruffian

This collection was just too shiny, and I couldn’t stop looking at those harsh diagonal stripes everywhere. This collection could use a little toning down and softening up–and maybe some texture!

style.com

I have high hopes that tomorrow will be better. Here’s the lineup for Day 4, courtesy of mbfashionweek.com: September 1110:30-11:30AM KATYA LEONOVICH, BOX 11AM LELA ROSE, STUDIO 12PM DEREK LAM, STAGE 12PM DEREK LAM LIVE STREAM 1PM DKNY, 547 W 26TH ST 2PM TRACY REESE, STUDIO 2PM TRACY REESE LIVE STREAM 2:30-3:30PM L.A.M.B., BOX 4PM DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, THEATRE 4PM DIANE VON FURSTENBERG LIVE STREAM 5PM JEN KAO, STUDIO 5PM Y-3, 82 MERCER ST 6:30-7:30PM GUISHEM, BOX 7PM CUSTO BARCELONA, STAGE 7PM CUSTO BARCELONA LIVE STREAM 8PM TOMMY HILFIGER, THEATRE 8PM TOMMY HILFIGER LIVE STREAM 9PM TIMO WEILAND, STUDIO

Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments on today’s fashions!

Until next time…

-L.Zgo.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *