The Fashion Statement: Fashion Week's a Wrap

by Kristin Young (RSS feed)
Feb 18th 2010 at 9:00AM

New York fashion week, which ends here today, will unfortunately be remembered as 1) the week during which Alexander McQueen committed suicide and 2) the last time Bryant Park hosted the shows.

As tragic as the loss of McQueen was, in particular, life went on as did the designers in the tents and elsewhere in the city. Here, a few highlights from the week:

Rodarte, shown above, looked as if heavy salvaged pieces of fabric had been caught up by a stiff fall wind and wrapped its wearer in bohemian luxe. Ironically, the Mulleavy sister design duo chose fall to lighten up with bright colors and florals, a stark contrast to the black goth-like collection they presented for spring.

Boyfriends and husbands, beware of closet raids. Preen set the tone for the new blazer silhouette -- a masculine and longer-body -- worn with a belt or not. After seasons of tight and short blazers, this roomier style looks just right.

Michael Quintanilla, a journalist friend of mine I bumped into after Donna Karan, made the comment that only the work of a master can transform basic black pieces into a phenomenal collection. Karan is such a master. Black off-the-shoulder gowns, black cocoon coats and black blazers accented with leather patches were simply gorgeous. The designer carefully punctuated the show with fuchsia coats and teal cocktail dresses that, against all that black, were all the more eye-popping.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement--02/18/10

Unlike Karan, Oscar de la Renta was all about color. With fluffed up hair à la Body Heat circa early '80s, models sauntered out in lapis-colored silk taffeta dresses, emerald silk chiffon blouses and magenta silk shantung blouses. Pure Hollywood.

Catherine Malandrino's muse must have been a modern nomad out of Mongolia. There were heavy black imprinted leather jackets atop drop-crotch nubby knickers, short leopard cocoon jackets with long black fur collars and kimono-esque chunky sweaters.

Marios Schwab said he was inspired by the set design of the 1978 film The Eyes of Laura Mars with Faye Dunaway. Standouts included a yellow gold knit cape with belt, a yellow crepe satin belted dress and a terracotta crepe satin empire epaulet dress.

Last but not least Sarah Jessica Parker -- recently named president and creative director of the Halston Heritage line -- was there giving her support to Schwab along with Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field.

Tags: Alexander McQueen, AlexanderMcqueen, Catherine Malandrino, CatherineMalandrino, Donna Karan, DonnaKaran, Halston, New York Fashion Week, NewYorkFashionWeek, Oscar de la Renta, OscarDeLaRenta, Preen, Rodarte, Sarah Jessica Parker, SarahJessicaParker