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Strutting the runway in contemporary, retro and diversified styles

2015 Fall/Winter collections bring back old trends and create new ones

From the bright-blue furs to the diversity on the catwalk, Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week had it all.

Though no typical college student budget can realistically support a complete designer outfit, there’s no rule against appreciating the unattainable. At this year’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, which ran from Feb. 11-19, not much was left to the imagination. Every luxurious collection was presented as though it was plucked straight out of a fantasy.

Uniqueness was by no means missing at Fashion Week. There were, however, obvious trends that multiple designers held dear, as many put their own spin on the classic favorites. A majority of collections featured some sort of the beloved chunky boots from the ‘90s, while others showcased the recent love-it-or-hate-it fur trend.

Fashion enthusiast and senior media and communication studies major Hewan Yitagesu said, “I love … the 1950s inspired coats with fur and matching skirts theme. [I’m] a huge fan of the toned down yet classy evening wear collection[s] which remind me of Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy’s fashion collaboration from the ‘50s.”

In New York, designers like Derek Lam eagerly brought their own distinct touches to their respective shows. Lam depicted American sportswear with a new twist.

Interestingly enough, his pieces consisted of both printed and single-colored crewneck sweatshirts for men. For women he designed outfits with unusually long, straight-leg pants that sometimes fell even below the shoes. He seemed to love his models with their hair slicked back and in a simple, straight ponytail.

Apart from Derek Lam, another designer who was all about the athletic wear was Kanye West. Debuting his Yeezy 750 Boost sneakers with Adidas, West advertised the easy-going nature of his shoes by pairing them with old-school sportswear in warm tones. Donning these looks were models of different ethnicities, in all shapes and sizes.

Junior Doyin Ayo, a media and communication studies major, said, “I only watched the Kanye West and Adidas show … it’s awesome to see what the new trends will be, and [then] finding a way to maybe incorporate certain pieces into my wardrobe.”

This year, the brand Libertine was not only up-to-date with the sporty-chic trend, but founder and designer Johnson Harti brought to the stage the signature graphics that got him to where he is today. Most outfits were black with pops of bright color exhibited in the graphics; amongst some repeated designs were galaxy prints and vintage rotary-dial telephones.

For men, such images were usually displayed on crewnecks that one would wear over sweatpants that cinched at the ankle. His ideas for women – which continued to follow the loose-fitting trend – were boxy coats and ponchos, each piece original in it’s own right. Of the ponchos presented, one in particular was quite interesting, as where one’s hands met outside the poncho, a silver, glittery crystal-ball clutch was created to be held onto.

One noteworthy show brought back from last year was designer Carrie Hammer’s, “Role Models Not Runway Models.”

In this show, some of the world’s most successful women are asked to walk the runway in hopes of empowering other women, according to Huffington Post. Jamie Brewer, actress from the hit TV show American Horror Story, was the first model with Down Syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week, emphasizing diversity’s presence at the forefront at this year’s show.

 

Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Adidas

Source: http://www.therecessionista.com

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