BETWEEN the trailer-park-trash collection previewed by Tara Subkoff and Chris Aire’s diamond dress, there were plenty of moments during Fashion Week, which wrapped Friday night, when we wondered if designers had lost their minds and decided not to bother creating anything real women would want to wear.
But there were other moments, like when Zac Posen sent a beautifully tailored cut-out khaki skirt down his runway Thursday night, when we realized that – more than ever – the majority of designers actually served up a wide-ranging array of fun, street-savvy trends that are going to induce a spending frenzy next season.
Many of the clothes on display, like fancy khaki and flouncy white skirts, wrap shirts with ruffled collars or petal sleeves and delicately embroidered slim-fitting tunics, are among the items that will be on our shopping list for spring.
Even cuffed tailored pants that are cropped at the knee and worn with high heels, seem wearable – as long as they are topped with a feminine, lightly ruffled blouse.
Colorful high-waisted party dresses – with crochet tops or tiered skirts – will be another must. As will a pair of Cynthia Rowley’s lucite-heeled, ribbon strapped pumps and some Zac Posen heels.
Put them all together, and you have our dream collection. So turn the page, and get out your shopping list for spring.
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5 MUSTS
1) KHAKI SKIRT
The look: Zac Posen’s cut-out, flouncy khaki skirt.
Why buy it: The tapered, tailored waist and hip area of this skirt make this a winner for most body types. The cut-outs give it a high-fashion kick.
2) WHITE SKIRT
The look: Michael Kors’ tiered white prairie skirt.
Why buy it: The cliche “goes with everything” applies perfectly to this wardrobe basic, which can be gussied up for a night out or dressed down for daywear.
3) SHORT SHORTS
The look: Nanette Lepore’s city shorts and form-fitting tunic top.
Why buy it: The embrodiered tunic is the new T-shirt and these short city shorts are next season’s alternative to the leggy minis.
4) RUFFLED SHIRT
The look: Kenneth Cole’s wrap, ruffled shirt and to-the-knee cropped pants.
Why buy it: The ultimate figure-flattering wrap shirt gets a fashion jolt from ruffles on the neck line and below the waist. Body conscious cropped pants are next season’s freshest silhouette.
5) CROCHET DRESS
The look: Nicole Miller’s crochet-topped party dress.
Why buy it: The forgiving high waist creates a poofy look for women who don’t want to be trapped in a bubble dress. Crochet is one of the richest trends for spring.
5 SHOES
The look: Spring’s must-have shoes include (from left) Cynthia Rowley’s ribbon-tie lucite heels; Carolina Herrera’s two-tone wrap mule; Zac Posen’s strappy cut-out sandals; Michael Kors’ woven gladiator shoes; and Alexandre
Herchcovitch’s fancy wooden clogs.
5 BAGS
* The look: Anna Sui’s candy-colored tote really will hold everything.
* The look: Zac Posen’s suede clutch will be the IT nighttime bag next season.
* The look: For those who want to play into the trend for metallics, without looking like an Oscar statue, Ralph Lauren’s gold clutch.
* The look: Posen’s rich leather tasselled tote is the daytime shlepper bag.
* The look: Luella Bartley’s new take on the Birkin will be the craze on the Upper East Side.