Fashion Week Wrap-Up: Get Excited for Spring 2014

LOOKING GOOD
by Ashley Pagliaro 

Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2014 Collection –courtesy of Narciso Rodriguez

Yesterday marked the final day of New York Fashion Week. All editors, buyers and PR reps can now breathe a loud, collective sigh. Unless they’re attending the London shows, of course, in which case, they’re crossing the pond at this very moment. But for those of us still in NYC, we’re here to give you a recap.  


When Victoria Beckham launched her brand five years ago, there were many naysayers. Would her label offer up nothing more than tight pleather dresses circa Posh Spice? Fortunately for everyone, the answer was “No.” And with the Spring 2014 collection, Beckham cemented her place as a relevant designer. Moving forward and further away from the form-fitting silhouettes of her previous collections, she showcased her ability to push the boundaries (and shape) of her designs while maintaining the strong sense of wearability her fans love. 

The Victoria Beckham Show –courtesy of Victoria Beckham

The web buzzed with talks of Narciso Rodriguez on Tuesday, whose collection followed his more recent direction of sleek tailoring and sensuality. While nothing was overdone, Rodriguez flaunted his expert technique, using geometric panels of rich fabrics to create a simple shift dress. These same geometric patterns were echoed in the accessories, both shoes and clutches. His most notable piece, was a skort of sorts, or what Rodriguez refers to as a “half-skirt”, a half-panel of fabric that covers very short, shorts. 

Narciso Rodriguez’s accessories popped with shapes and color –courtesy of Narciso Rodriguez

J.Crew recently received a touch of criticism for becoming slightly over-styled and neglecting the staples that were the very foundation of the brand. Now, we may be fishing, but it does look like this criticism was taken into account when designing the Spring 2014 collection. While there were a fair amount of the quirky J.Crew designs we’ve come to know and love –– like paint-splattered military-style pants and a very vivid Hawaiian inspiration –– there were also classic silhouettes and prints that conjure up that old feeling. Once again, J.Crew proved capable of perfectly toeing the line of innovation and sophistication. 

Classically preppy and stylish J. Crew –courtesy of J. Crew

Tracy’s New York Life has featured NY favorite Steven Alan in many of our style posts, so clearly we’re biased. When the designer debuted his Spring 2014 collection, it’s no surprise that we weren’t disappointed. Not one to wildly experiment, Alan knows what he is good at, and more importantly, what his shoppers like. The collection provided an ethereal, slightly bohemian look, including a loose-fitting trench coat that seems to be a must-have for the spring. But where Alan surprised us, pleasantly, was in his use of a floral pattern on several pieces that he described as a take on Japanese room wear. If this is an example of what Alan is capable of when experimenting, we’d love to see what else he can do. 

Steven Alan’s Spring 2014 Collection–courtesy of Steven Alan

There was something special in the collections this time around. Maybe it was the prevalence of new designers shaking things up. Or maybe it’s the fact that London seems to be having a bit of a moment, offering up some competition. There was also no Fashion’s Night Out to distract. Regardless, it certainly made for an exciting NYFW, and for an even more exciting anticipated Spring 2014. 

Posted on 09/13/2013