Homework for Adults

So, I started Fashion Design school just last week.  Going back to school isn’t such a big deal for me really, but going for Fashion Design is!  I feel like I get to play for homework! Drawing, looking at the runway shows (this IS Fashion Week in NYC, after all!), reseaching great artists.  How lucky could a girl be?

I had submitted a couple short assignments, but was starting to feel a little wobbly, I have to admit.  The instructors had commented on almost everyone else’s work-EXCEPT MINE!  My self-esteem was starting to slide.  But then I went online today, and my Fashion Week review that I posted yesterday not only was complimented by 2 of my fellow students, but by my instructor as well!  I am feeling much better now!  So much so that I am going to post my little review here:

Fashion Week started out with many designers showing loose, flowing designs. Comfort seems to be the word of the season: perhaps feeling that consumers would be uptight enough with the economy being in a downslide, designers want to give them soft, comfortable clothing to relax in come spring. This includes soft, easy fabrics such as silk, chiffon and jersey to lounge in.

Color follows that vein as well, showing many different pastels, with blues, lavenders, peaches and greys seeming to be the top choices. A few lines went with stand out colors of off-orange or other brights, but pastels truly seem to be the choice of the season. Black is also big this year, running concurrent with the theme of a sad economy.

Prints for the most part are of a mosaic type, soft and free flowing as well. Little is seen of dots and stripes, although they did have a strong showing at least one house in particular. Digitized/stylized prints are showing up too. These beautiful prints make for lovely dresses, tops and even jumpsuits in a couple of lines.

Influence from previous decades is strong. Perhaps designers are wanting to remind cautious consumers of past flush times with circle and poodle skirts, slim suits and rocker-glam reminiscent of the 50s, as well as almost-neon colors, cropped, oversized sweatshirts, and suit jackets obviously influenced by the opulent 80s.

Overall, the designers seem to have the collective thought that if a woman won’t be able to spend a lot this season, they will at least make her feel beautiful in whatever she is wearing.

Ok-I know it’s nothing too fabulous, but I am proud of it.  Especially for a first assignment after years of not doing anything remotely similar!  Here’s a couple of my favorite looks:

 

 

Embellished black dress from Victoria Beckham

Asymmetrical black shirtdress from Boy by Band of Outsiders

  

Yes, I like black if you can’t tell!  Victoria Beckham surprised everyone with an uber-classy dress collection that oozed femininity.  Every one of her dresses truly makes a woman look and feel like a woman-in a good way!  Boy by Band of Outsiders had a totally 80s line.  Actress Kirsten Dunst did all the modeling-kind of an odd ‘show’-no runway show per se, rather they flashed scenes of her in their clothing all over the walls and ceiling.  Makes it kind of hard to actually see the clothes, I would think, but everyone wants their presentation to stand out and be different.  But the collection itself was really cute and totally wearable.  A great place to check out these and all the rest of the new fashions is The Online Home of Vogue Magazine –style.com .

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