SS14: New York Fashion Week highlights in a nutshell!

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Our favourite looks from NYFW: Prabal Gurung and Alexander Wang

Fashion week has received its first round of applause in the Big Apple as left us with an ever increasing number of trends (for Spring/Summer 2014) to pick from. But now that it is over, we are curious about the upcoming European installments in London, Milan and Paris.

Which trends will reappear on the runway? Which classic designs will we be reintroduced to our wardrobes in a fresh form? And most importantly, which newcomers have left their first mark in fashion history and which strongholds will keep on renewing themselves every season?

All these questions will be answered once the four fashion weeks have circled half way around the globe, and the whole picture of Spring/Summer 2014 has come to full fruition.

As for now, with five full days of shows and so much happening, we have been rocked about and overfed with innovative - and sometimes contrasting - concepts and designs.

To make it simpler to digest, we bring you the NYFW highlights (as well as the rest of fashion weeks as they happen) which made us palpitate, flutter and sometimes quiver.

Newcomer Highlights

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Looks from standout newcomers Dion Lee and Wes Gordon.

NYFW always sees a raft of new blood climbing their way into fashion and fighting for their first solo line and lounger under the sunlight. As for all previous seasons, young designers have been introduced and reviewed prior to their presentations and expectations had been set into place.

The new names we were following in New York included Rihanna’s Stylist Adam Selman, Michael Kors’ former designer Charles Harbison, Delpozo and Australian designer Dion Lee.

Recent newcomers like Wes Gordon and Misha Nonoo, have now taken their place as full-fledged designers and have owned their spot in the sunshine.

Wes Gordon has intuitively included in the collection the bare midriff and the loose flowing long skirts but has also given definition and uniqueness to his line with his refined lace work, soft feminine colours that achieved an extremely delicate look.

Shock (& horror) Factor?

Thom Browne

The most daring show for New York came from Thom Browne (photo above) who has re-interpreted the Halloween theme for spring and gave it a somewhat 'Tim Burton' flair.

Cottoned up silver and white hair, Gothic-themed makeup and overly candid white dresses embroidered in black thread have appeared over a gray toned background setting. Hard casket handbags, blue and white lace-up flats and vampiric glasses have framed the look and left an impression.

Innovation? Shock and horror?

We’ll leave that decision to you and invite you to spot this look anywhere on the streets!

Major Trends

Spring/Summer 2014 in New York sees two main trending styles for tops: The buttoned-up shirts as seen on the runways of Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Marissa Webb and Prabal Gurung on one hand. And on the other hand, we will see boxy crop tops that expose a bare midriff for those of us who have endured half a decade of Pilates and are finally proud to expose our strong core to the public!

Alexander Wang

Victoria Beckham

Hot season bottoms see mimic trousers who pose as skirts. These appear as wide boxers with Alexander Wang, overly wide stiff long trousers from newcomer Delponzo and wide trousers-come -long skirts from Theyskens, Proenza Schouler and classy Victoria Beckham.

Proenza Schouler

Victoria Beckham

Flowy layered bottoms made out of extremely light material are definitely all over the New York collections and assume different forms. Altuzarra gives us a daring split that rises up to the start of the hip, Anna Sui merges American Indian themes with Druid fairytale and Marchesa goes all out by providing formal dresses that will make us feel like pixies.

Altuzarra

Anna Sui

Marchesa

Favourites and other highlights

Oscar de la Renta goes lime green! We have a new favourite summer ball gown that is embroidered in black and adorned by a light cotton candy veil.

Marc Jacobs brings autumnal dark hues to Spring along with bulky shoulders that remind some of us of military coats and others of 'toreros' from bullfights. The collection feels more like an extension of winter (or perhaps predicting a cold summer?) rather than embracing hotter weathers.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria demonstrated an interesting take on office looks; Something like an Alice in Wonderland alternate reality twist. It incorporates layered skirts, wet look leather waist corsets and polished never ending zips that run along the outfit to possibly reveal a strategic portion of skin.

Lilyth Compostella

* More Fashion Week reviews: London - Milan - Paris.