Hello-Hello, we are practically melting here at Princess InterGalactic HQ, today’s heat wave will have us close to 50°, before you know it we’ll be parading about in shorts and a tee.
No one will be surprised to see us return to Fashion Week in today’s post, we begin with a look at styles from the Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2011 collection for women.
Thomas Iannaccone/WWD.com
Once again Mr. Hilfiger surprised, the restraint shown in most of the designs is very attractive. From the WWD review:
“But what stood out more was how remarkably controlled and expensive everything looked. Hilfiger dug into men’s wear — mannish tailoring, heavy-duty utility wear and foulard prints — and blew them out into an array of Ivy League threads with a subtext of cool.”
Not everything works for us.
While leather isn’t our style, we know it appeals to many.
Expect to see a lot of ponchos and capes this fall.
Thomas Iannaccone/WWD.com
From a Style.com interview with the designer:
“We always want to be preppy,” Tommy Hilfiger said on the phone yesterday. “But we always want to make preppy fresh.”
Some reviews called this collection “bohemian-prep,” others say “hippy-prep” (?) and still others have additional terms. The designer’s menswear collection for fall was termed “indie-prep”. We have long since given up on attempting to keep track of what iteration of hypothetical prep Mr. Hilfiger is using at any given time, we can only judge the styles as individual pieces through our own prism of what might work for us. (Frankly, we’re still staggered by the fact there are pieces by this designer we find appealing!)
Kyle Ericksen’s backstage photos for WWD provide another perspective on the styles.
The candid shots provide a better glimpse into a style’s wearability IOHO.
It is nice to see the pops of color among the muted tones for next fall and winter. Again, our hat is off to Mr. Hilfiger, the collection makes us consider actually experimenting with one of his styles at some point in the future. (Gasp.)
As always with Mr. Hilfiger, the audience was sprinkled liberally with celebrities, including Claire Courtin-Clarins and Virginie Courtin-Clarins, granddaughters of the man who originally founded that cosmetic line, lower right we see Olivia Palermo.
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Michael Kors celebrated his label’s 30th anniversary with a stellar show.
Among the many celebrities in the front row for this event, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, on the right, Vogue Grand Pooh-bah Anna Wintour waits.
For a complete Kors recap with outstanding photos, visit the Quintesessence blog.
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A few quick hits, the first from Vera Wang:
Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times
Nothing from Vera really had a wow factor, nor did anything jump out at Hérve Léger.
Via PurseBlog.com
Two more tidbits and links:
Chris Moore/Karl Prouse via The NY Times
- Suzy Menkes had a stellar piece in Tuesday’s Times, “On the Straight and Narrow,” looking at the change in silhouettes and psyche:
“It is back to the straight and narrow in New York Fashion Week. No more loose and sloppy casual clothes, easy sportswear or girlish frills.”
- The Journal has a story about Jenna Lyons and J. Crew that includes this quote from Ms. Lyons, provoking a small “amen” here at the Prepatorium.
“WSJ: What about the collection resulted in softer sales last fall?
Ms. Lyons: [The customer] was sick of ruffles and so were we. There are always cycles where things sort of ebb and flow and all of a sudden that thing that you loved you now hate and that thing that you hated you now love.”
Perhaps someone at Talbots will take note of the ruffle change as well.
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We are excited by some wonderful news about our friend and style blogger Skip Brooks at Alexander Grant. (Note the snappy bow tie.)
Courtesy Image
Skip is partnering with the Style Cooperative on a line of bow ties launching this March. We love the nautical influence in the blue and white version seen above and in the fabric close-up below.
We’re thinking that perhaps Skip didn’t spend all his time at Harvard with his nose to the law books. Just speculating mind you. (Heh, heh, heh.)
With that, g’bye until next time when we look at Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers’ fall collections.
Courtesy Brooks Brothers
We leave you with a peek at the Brooks Brothers new Fair Isle knit tie from next fall’s line.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:
- Thomas Iannaccone/WWD (Hilfiger runway)
- Alice Bensi / GoRunway.com (Hilfiger front row)
- Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images For IMG (Michael Kors front row)
- Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times (Anna Wintour)
The Preppy Princess 