From Marc Jacobs to Ralph Lauren; NYFW Highlights

RALPH LAUREN

There was a lot of talk surrounding Ralph Lauren this fashion week, as he announced that his brand would be staging 2 catwalk shows. As sales have fallen at Ralph Lauren over the past year, the designer introduced a new 'see now, shop now' approach to his latest collection. So pretty much what you see on the catwalk is available to buy straight away from any of his boutiques. Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Mica Arganaraz all made appearances, in a collection which was classic Ralph Lauren. From the Navajo references, smart grey suits, flared work trousers and the stunning jewel coloured evening dresses, this was Lauren at his finest while Julianne Moore and Rosie Huntington Whiteley watched from the front row.

Marc Jacobs

Well, Mr Jacobs certainly delivered quite a show for spring/summer 2017 as well as a lot of controversy. The problem wasn't the clothes, the make up or the staging on the catwalk. The issue which got a lot of people's backs up online and especially on Twitter was the fact that the models, mainly all white, were wearing fake dreadlocks, usually associated with black girls, not white girls. I thought the dread locks looked fun, edgy and experimental but I can easily see why this would have irked people. Why did Jacobs just not use black models? Race has always been a problem in fashion, especially for Italian designers, so it's a shame Marc Jacobs didn't use more stunning black girls like Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, Lineisy Montero, Binx Walton or Tami Williams.

Anyway, on to the collection itself. I LOVED this show. From the baby doll/Victoriana mini dresses to the retro 1970s feel, there was a real mix of influences going on. Continuing on from last season, Jacobs decided to send his models out in ridiculously high platform shoes in patent pink, metallic silver and purple. Metallics were used on coats and dresses as well as quilting patterns as seen on the coat worn by Gigi Hadid. I spotted leopard print and camouflage, large fur jackets, accentuated waists and a lot of layering. In fact, the whole thing looked as though it could have come straight out of a musical, maybe something like Starlight Express. Irina Shayk closed the show in a pair of high waist, pink hot pants and jacket, complete with matching boots. It was quite a spectacle, but that's what makes Marc Jacobs great.

Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid on the catwalk

 Hugo Boss

Jason Wu seems to be going from strength to strength as creative director at Boss. His latest collection for the minimal brand was colourful, fun yet stylish and extremely elegant. It was sporty yet relaxed with models walking in breach slides with hardly any make up or accessories. Oh and it was cool that Sasha Pivovarova opened the show too, and not Kendall/Bella/Gigi.

 Michael Kors

Apart from Bella Hadid's embarrassing trip down the catwalk, this show had a very easy going, relaxed feel to it. Kors gave us pretty floral tea dresses in navy and pink, grey check skirt suits, across the body satchel bags as worn by Joan Smalls who opened the show and some great options for evening wear with his sexy, black numbers which closed the show. I loved the messy beach hair and the wedge sandals, as well as the roll call of models. Carolyn Murphy closed the show in a lovely navy dress, while Cameron Russell, Anna Ewers, Taylor Hill and Andreea Diaconu all took their turn to walk. Amazing line up!

Rodarte

As always with Rodarte, Kate and Laura Mulleavy delivered a show packed full of beautiful yet slightly Gothic fashion. I loved all the pretty white looks that opened the show. The frills and ruffles were divine and the sheer fabrics layered over each other where just beautiful. By the way, white is a BIG colour for spring, or I should say 'tone' for next season. The embroidery was exquisite, the shearling jacket amazing with a black net skirt and boots while the decadent dresses at the end of the collection were stunning. Really captivating with such lovely colours.

 Victoria Beckham

I loved Victoria Beckham last season. With all the surfer chic references, it was pretty cool and quite different for her. This season however, I was bored by the 5th look. Yes she experimened with velvet, satin and silk and yes, there were a couple of nice dresses, but the overall feel of the show was very, well...boring. The punches of tangerine orange were nothing new for the designer while the bra let tops and skirts would have been nice with more detail. Not great from VB.

NYFW: Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and more...

Ralph Lauren
Oh, what a show! I always say they leave the best to last at NYFW, with Boss, Proenza, Ralph and Marc all showing on the last two days. And this Ralph Lauren show just exuded Hollywood glamour, a country gentleman's sensibility and an air of 1930s excellence. Beige tweeds, neutral trouser suits and tan jackets formed the first part of the show, nodding to the country living mantra Lauren is famous for promoting. It was nice seeing the models in such masculine clohting as it was softened with the delicate hair and make up as well as the materials used, such as suede and wool. The belted coats were another highlight, as were the gol brocade jackets, embellished skinny jeans and ruffled blouses.

Gone was the hot, Flamenco senorita we saw last season, as Lauren went back to his Hollywood glam look, with a number of beautiful jewel coloured dresses at the end of the show. Pleated royal red numbers looked amazing against regal golds and blacks, with the models all wearing shiny leather boots. I loved the final look, a simple black roll neck paired with a billowing gold skirt. Majestic and amazing!

Marc Jacobs
I have to be honest, this collection was rather terrifying. It was not only the sinister hair and make up which made models unrecognizable but the clothes itself, which bordered on Gothic Victoriana mixed with prarie girl. The shoes as well were unbelievably high and very punk, with their huge wedges and lace up fronts. Everything was over-sized which made the models look completely out of proportion, with longer arms and even longer bodies. The catwalk was bare, with no gimmicks as seen last season at Marc Jacobs, while Lady Gaga made a surprise turn on the catwalk, tiny compared to the heights of her fellow models. Not one of Marc's best shows, but food for thought anyway. 

Proenza Schouler
They continue to be one of my favourite design duos ever, and a firm fixture at New York Fashion Week. Proenza have proved that whatever they send down the runway is an instant trend and is copied by dozens more designers. This season, they stuck with their strappy dresses showing off the shoulders and decolletage area, added some cute laces and conjured up a new slim silhouette. Large, loose harem pants were paired with crisp jackets and black boots, white biker jackets were decked with buttons and that rabbit patchwork coat had everybody talking, and was undoubtedly the star of the show. Clean, easy and minimal, exactly what we have come to expect from Proenza Schouler.

Hugo Boss
Since Jason Wu took the helm at Boss a couple of seasons ago, their collections have just got better and better - but still stay loyal to the minimal look they are known for. This season, splashes of colours such as coral pink, khaki green and burnt orange were featured on dresses and tailored blouses paired chicly with black trousers. Pepulums were used on most pieces with the fabric delicately folded over midi dresses like an origami pattern. Models walked with their head pulled back with a middle parting with, you guessed it, minimal make up. As simple as Boss was, it was very effective.

Anna Sui
What more can I say about the Anna Sui show... it was just classic Anna. A lot of the patterns we had already seen before, with strong references to boho chic and a 70s sensibility. A nice touch was seeing models walk in pairs down the runway, both wearing matching his and hers outfits. It was all very Mick Jagger complete with silk neck ties, metallic trousers and pretty baby doll dresses.Not one of my favourite collections from the veteran designer.

Michael Kors
Before the show even began, all eyes were on the beautiful Blake Lively who was sitting front row with her mum in a lovely beige coat and floral dress. Dressed head to toe in Kors, she looked every inch the movie star in the delicate colours and was joined by fellow actress Naomi Harris. As for the show, which was opened by Freja Beha Erichson, it was a autumnal mix of beige knitwear, feathered cropped trousers, fur coats and metallic mini dresses with dapper style fringing. There was no real theme, instead Kors gave us a little bit of everything from jeans to red carpet ready cocktail dresses. I loved the 60s baby blue coat with white collar and large sunglasses, as well as the overall styling of the collection. Check prints were paired with denim skirts, fur stoles with grey jersey and deep navies were used as a touch of sophistication to this all American woman. Another great show.

Marchesa
The Marchesa lady was in for a dramatic make over this fall. Gone were the pretty, frilled dresses we are so used to seeing and instead a sexier, more grown up woman was unveiled. A gold metallic dress shimmied down the runway, blue pastels were floaty and beautiful while the black sheer pieces were exceptionally beautiful but darkly mysterious. I loved the lace details and the bold use of reds and burgundy's against the black fabrics. As always, Marchesa delivered a beautiful collection. Watch the video below.

A Hollywood Affair with Marc Jacobs

What other way to close New York Fashion Week than with a fantastic show by Marc Jacobs. Centered around an old Hollywood theme, this collection was a mix of glamour and grunge, a specialty Jacobs likes to mix. The show was held in an old theatre with, 'Marc Jacobs' lit up in white lights above the entrance while inside models paraded along an extremely long catwalk, posing for their picture on the red carpet in the process, and then disappearing behind the wings. It was fun and fearless, with a host of big names walking including Adriana Lima, Irina Shayk, Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls, Caroline Trentini, Anna Ewers and a surprise appearance by singer Beth Ditto, who stalked the runway in a revealing feathered white dress. 

There was plenty of colour splashed across boxy biker jackets, 50's style skirts and fur collars. It was very Alfred Hitchcock meets Andy Warhol with Janet Leigh, from the move 'Psycho' printed across skirts and black old fashioned cameras on blouses. Everywhere you looked there were references to film, with gingham skirts, neckties and sequined long dresses at the end of the show. Waists were cinched in while a more urban feel was presented through knitted jumpers and biker boots; a stark comparison to the beautiful red carpet dresses worn by Joan Smalls, Binx Wilson and Adriana Lima. Make-up was also dark and grungy, with eyes bathed in electric blue eye shadow and piercing red lips, with faces left pale and strong in the bright lights. I loved this show, and applaud Marc Jacobs for another amazing collection!

#NYFW: Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren

Marc Jacobs
With a chilling and powerful soundtrack (Requiem for a Dream), a black catwalk and a dramatic atmosphere engulfing the fashion front row, Marc Jacobs unveiled his fall 2015 collection. Erin O'Connor opened the show, setting the scene for what was a very dark runway. In homage to Vogue editor, Diana Vreeland, there were plenty of stand out sequin dresses, sheer panels and black leather gloves. Skirts had a 50's feel about them billowing out at the waist and dropping to mid calf and fur was neatly styled along collars and on arms. As for the coats, they were fitted with huge buttons and large lapels. Overall, its clear to state that Marc is most definitely back!

Ralph Lauren
Wintery, warm and cosy, Ralph Lauren gave us a fantastic show wrapping up the end of New York Fashion Week. From the fedora hats to the Navajo style cardigans and jumpers, layers swamped models' complete with the iconic 'Ricky' bags and accessories. Colours were subdued and earthy- grey, brown and beige which eventually gave way to smart black suits, with fur around the lapels. And of course, towards the end of the show, in came the jaw dropping, Hollywood glam dresses. Nobody does new Americana chic like Lauren, and this show was just another stunner.

Louis Vuitton spring 2014: The Ad Campaign

So Marc Jacobs is moving on and Louis Vuitton has a new creative director. For his final Vuitton campaign, Jacobs has brought in fashion royalty to pose with the iconic Vuitton handbags. Models Giselle and Edie Campbell star alongside Sophia Coppola and Catherine Deneuve. Shot by Steven Miesel, these stunning photographs capture the essence of Jacobs work at Vuitton and show how much he will be missed at this iconic French fashion house.

So here are the pictures in all their beautiful, fashion glory...

Louis Vuitton Spring 2014

BREAKING NEWS: MARC JACOBS LEAVES LOUIS VUITTON.

Will Jacobs stay, or will he leave? Will he, won't he? These were the continous questions pacing through many minds today at the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week. Well, it has been confirmed... Jacobs has said his final adeiu at Louis Vuitton, after 16 wonderful years as creative director of the iconic fashion house. There were rumours circulating that Jacobs wanted to leave to focus on his own fashion line, and today those rumours were confirmed. One things for sure, he'll be surely missed at LV by his fans and enemies alike, as no one designs like Marc. (The next designer at Vuitton has some seriously big shoes to fill!) In those 16 wonderful years at Louis Vuitton, Jacobs updated this old fashion house and planted it firmly on the fashion radar, soon becoming a firm favourite at Paris fashion week.

Every season, we would wait in suspense for what fabulous offering Jacobs would conjure up for us, and every time we were suprised, delighted and passionatly in love with what we saw. Who remembers the huge rotating carosal for spring summer 2012, where the gorgeous Kate Moss closed the show in a beautiful lace dress? Or the fall collection where a real steam train was part of the set and each model had their own porter to carry their expensive Louis Vuitton luggage. We've had ornate catwalks and baroque lifts carrying scantily clad models wrapped in fur and knee high boots, 1960's prints and elevators carrying models up and down the runway. Its been exciting and fun, but the journey has to end sometime, and for Jacobs the time is now... Goodbye and good luck!

Marc Jacobs spring 2014

Marc Jacobs yesterday gave us an amazing show, quite gothic, punky and dark. An amazing end to New York fashion week. It's safe to say that Jacobs appeared to be in a very dark mood for spring summer next year as blonde wigs, flowery prints and black led the way on his rather strange catwalk. A show done in complete Jacobs style: confident and wearable.

Here are some of my favourite pics from the show....
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