As of Friday, it ended. Manhattan, you can breathe again. Back to their corners go the so-called fashionistas sporting football jerseys and Birkenstocks. (A. You probably don't know what a halfback does, so you shouldn't be wearing that, and B. the entire Pacific Northwest called and wants its footwear back.) Street style is such a freaking circus. Amiright? Anyway...
I attended no shows or previews. I'm really not cool enough. But I still had fun. Hanna came to stay for a weekend. She has the honor of being my first official guest in the new place, making it an occasion in and of itself. We also went to a fun blogger dinner at The Smith, organized/hosted by one Jamie Meares (total lady/talent crush). Had a blast!
As for the actual shows, the Spring collections are always appealing in my book. Even as we near cooler days, I enjoy watching a lighter sensibility come to life in color, textiles, beading, pattern and those all the other intricate details. The runways are airy, bright and striking in anticipation of a warmer season yet to come. Needless to say, last week I spent many moments digging through The Cut and Style.com to see it all. Do you have a favorite look or collection? (See some of my faves above!)
Surely you also know that the Fashion Week experience is no longer limited to the attendees or the runway. Much to the delight of us desk dwellers, we have the chance to see more than ever before. Of course runway live streams have been around for years, but amateurs and insiders are adding additional backstage and on-the-job perspective via Instagram, blogs, Pins, etc.. I don't think I have to tell you how much content is available...
How interesting then that Spring '14 has brought with it some serious branded digital content. Perhaps more-so than past seasons, fashion houses and news sites are taking the Fashion Week experience in-house by investing heavily in design talent. These companies are now mastering the art of control over the delivery of the latest lines. By openly experimenting in a(n unprecedented) public way, it seems that everyone is taking risks and trying out new ideas. Before, to be considered high-end, a brand presented a façade of complete expertise. Now, a successful brand must prove that it's willing to try anything; to participate in the ups and downs and ins and outs of an ever-changing tech-savvy world. After all, this is the behavior the online environment requires of us. The status quo has no place here. And isn't that cool?
As a profesh web designer myself (and a tiny part of this new wave), it's fun and inspiring to take in. I commend all of the unspoken heroes of Fashion Week: The creative directors, art directors, photogs, stylists, prop stylists, copy writers and web/graphic designers and developers who both invent and execute this content beautifully and in a serious time-crunch. I know first-hand that it's not easy. NYC, the land where creative all-nighters abound. Speaking of...
Favorite Branded Special Content: Tory Burch. It takes forever to load, but it's well worth it. (No, I'm not talking about the video.) Scroll down and wait for a long and luscious digital look book filled with runway imagery, back stage snippets and design inspiration from Tory herself. Not to mention: the collection is to die for. That architectural print? Amazing.
Favorite NYFW Archive: New York Times' "Fashion Fingerprints", a spectacular visual capture. How great do the collections look abstracted into that horizontal grid? The image organization brings a new meaning to the term "Spring line."
Favorite Beauty Homage: Model-morphosis. Photographer Greg Kessler showcases the transformative power of hair and makeup by capturing models before and after they are prepped for a show.
Favorite Insider Perspective: Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg of Ann Street Studio. Of course. I especially love this 15-second capture of the Ralph Lauren show. So good! Speaking of Ralph Lauren, nice job .COM team!
Favorite Impressions: Snap Sketches by illustrator Damien Florébert Cuypers for T Magazine. It takes the artistic nature of street style to a purer form.
Favorite Social Effort: Pinterest (with whom I have a love-hate relationship. Can they stop breaking their own website!?) launched an official Fashion Week hub page, which holds some great brand, journalist, and "tastemaker" pin boards in one place. In second place: Oscar de la Renta. I have to give them credit because they were the first high-end designer to live-Pin a fashion show last year. Every season since, it remains a delight to watch in action.
Have you come across any Fashion Week content that you find especially cool? Do share.
