New York Fashion Week Day Five brought out some of the chilliest temperatures we’ve felt all week, and as a result, the biggest, boldest furs this side of Russia. Often paired with sneakers or flats – a Sunday trend – these furs took the form of white, black, rainbow and everything in between. They lined pea-coats, covered heads, and provided as much warmth as possible for guests trekking up and down the west side, mere blocks away from the chill of the Hudson River.
The day started with Public School, one of the hottest tickets in town, as witnessed by the throngs of celebrities, VIPS, and general hangers-on. With a stellar front row that included Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland and Joe Jonas, designers Maxwell Osbourne and Dao-Yi Chow took the brand’s signature urban, street-inspired style and elevated it into the realm of fashion. That included fantastic puffed outerwear, which would have been perfect on this frosty day, in voluminous proportions, as well as sporty anoraks, complimented by knit trousers, pleated skirts and classic button downs that hearken back to the early ‘90’s in jacquard, herringbone and plaid. Still riding high off not one but two major fashion honors – winning the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and last year’s Swarovski Menswear Award – Public School is having a good year.
Then it was on to Derek Lam, a fashion favorite known for his delicious sportswear and luxurious staples. Yesterday’s collection was quiet and chic. Mr. Lam presented a variety of sumptuous outerwear in cozy hues of camel, brown and navy. Perfect fall pieces. He’s also helping bring the wide leg pant back, only in the Derek Lam world, it’s cropped with sailor stripes running down the leg. Other stand-out items included cozy v-neck sweaters, chocolate leather A-line skirts and a series of knock-out trench coats.
Diane von Furstenberg channeled the idea of seduction for her fall show, which took its usual Sunday afternoon time slot. Always a giant presentation, DVF sent out pin-stripe suits and her famous jersey wrap dresses for the likes of Kesha, Estelle and Jessica Joffe. Runway regular Kendall Jenner opened the show in a cream-colored long sleeve wrap dress with black bow. From then on it was 70’s inspired suits, separates and dresses perfect for taking the modern woman from the boardroom to Studio 54.
Later in the evening, Prabal Gurung presented a beautiful collection inspired by a trip to upstate New York. The designer is often influenced by nature, most recently the Himalayas of his native Nepal. It was a calmer, cleaner collection than last season, featuring slip dresses, duffel coats, glorious knits and fabulous furs in hues of gray, camel and ivory.