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New York Fashion Week is officially over and out for another season. The runways are bare and all the fashionable people have hopped a plane to London. But as we reflect on the shows, it’s true that many of the week’s lasting wearable ideas came in the form of street style.
Experimentation, unique expression and just plain kewl clothes had the paparazzi in overdrive. So much stand out colour, so much texture, so much for our eyes to ingest. Was the overtly obvious hero dressing a reflection of real trend or simply a way to get noticed? Possibly both. But who cares, our cup runneth over with inspired looks for the new season.
Here are our blind-siding, wardrobe-ransacking winning looks. Next up: London.
Yellow is your new extra friend
Yellow in the shade of Big Bird is the primary colour lifting our spirits (and looks) this autumn. The streets have been awash with colour this year, but a squeeze of lemon has been the hue of particular choice. Layer as a sweater, contrast via a coat or boldly wear head-to-toe.
Coats are very fluffy, very big and very colourful
Perhaps an extension of Max Mara’s teddy bear cult coat of last year, or perhaps a fashioned-up Snuggie blanket made wearable past the couch, the fluffy, plushy coat in any colour other than black was every NYFW-goers best friend this year. Chic via volume and practical via warmth, expect this look to hang around.
belt everything
We recently did a retrospective of 2009 during that short lived #10YearChallenge thing and noted belting to be of particular prominence a decade ago. Unfortunately, I sat on the side of the fence that predicted a no-waist 2019 but, post-NYFW, I have been proven wrong over and over and over. Belt your coats, your shirts, your dresses, your sweaters – you read it here second.
pants are wide in a non-wide way
I guess you could call the current shape of pants non-descript. I know that’s a bit of an anti-description, but their look is just that. Not wide, not skinny, not flared, not man-style, not low-waisted, not high-rise…just…pants. Ankle-grazing, relaxed-fit, practical pockets. We may have come for the irony, but we’ll stay for the comfort.
This shade of pink is a colour worth considering
I want to call it Indie-Barbie. It’s unlikely that’s how Pantone has it labelled but given it’s kind of like candy knocked back one or two percent, I think it’s an adequate name. And it’s been wrapping the street style mavens of New York a lot. It’s outstanding in a cool way, pretty in a cool way and very malleable to its outfit co-workers. I never really got over my love for Barbie-dressing though, so perhaps I’m biased.
checks make for certifiable seventies chic
Every season via a plethora of different ways, the seventies is evident in fashion. It’s the decade that keeps on giving. This time? Checks on checks on plaid on gingham. And when Tarantino releases his mustard-tastic era film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood this year, be prepared to see a lot more.
clear wardrobe room for lotsa boots
A note on proportion. What once was seen as a bit of a clunky silhouette – long, loose-cut boots worn underneath a longer dress or skirt or pant – is now a cut to become familiar with. And boots-wise we’re talking snakeskin, white, cowboy, bright, glitter all falling into chic-territory. Pointy toes and a heel you can walk in the construction you’re after.
Bath robes have been given a promotion
I love a micro-trend, especially one that looks like my oft-completed early morning emergency trips to the shops with my toddler. How to make it chic? Kitten heel boots, a chic bag and not your actual pyjamas underneath.
a little bit of fringing makes a good look great
While ostentatious fringing is also a look right now, we’re down for the more wearable, less costume-party variation. A touch of shred to your lapels or shoulders or hemline is understated but texturally interesting.
Age is a number, not a style limitation
From the runways to the street, women who too often are overlooked (that is: over a certain age) are finally being celebrated for the chic, refined, fun, beautiful people they are. They have the experience and heritage to make just about anything look dapper, and I’m going to say do a bold earring and bold sunglass like no other generation.
NYFW street style. Getty Images
Tonal is the new monochrome
What we mean here is that while last year it was all about dip-dying your whole self into a colour of choice (one-colour coat, shirt, trouser, bag, shoe) this year it’s about choosing your tonal corner and dressing from its limitations. The result is almost always classic and stylish, particularly from the beige/cream area. (ps. props to this woman whom, on closer inspection, is also actually wearing TRACKSUIT PANTS)
Wet weather can be chic
It’s true that this girl is cute-as-a-button, so could probably sell us anything, but how inspired to turn a dreary day decidedly chic. The use of chunky trainer as sensible wet-sidewalk wear? Excellent. The dad-style check overcoat? Very chic. The appropriation of summer’s bucket hat trend into a practical plastic bonnet? Sensational.
