NYFW Day 2

Day 2 has come to a close, but there are many shows left to go! This week we are presented with numerous talented designers showcasing the new spring and summer 2015 collection. Names like Donna Karan, Caroline Herrera, Reem Acra are just a few of our favorites we always look forward too. But it was the new rising designers that caught us off guard—in a good way of course. Designers like Taoray Wang, Oudifu, Chantell Walters, Michael Herz and August Getty are some of the fresh faces gracing the New York Fashion Week scene this year. While we’ve been marking endless days off our calendar, the wait is finally over. As NYFW sprang to life, it reminded me of how similar this event is as the Super Bowl is to men. Even though our sights are on clothes rather than a pigskin ball, we can understand that obsession is real! After a preview of the past two days, I hope everyone sinks into their seats as limelights dim down.

Here’s a breakdown of my favorite designers during Day 2 of NYFW:

Stella Nolasco: What better way than to start the morning with Stella Nolasco’s runway show? All the beautiful materials from tulle to metallics, worked so well in a cohesive and timeless collection. It was a perfect reflection of how spring should be. And not to mention, the lace! My mouth literally dropped to the floor when one of Nolasco’s model stepped out in a pale blue and gold cutout dress. Right off the bat, this amazing designer grabs your attention and leaves you wanting for more. I think this has to be an essential talent that designers acquire. If you can do that, then you’ve done your job. Stella Nolasco is a brilliant designer with pieces that blow you away. A few things I instantly remember from her presentation are her choices of color (pastel blue and green), her use of feminine fabrics (like chiffon, lace and tulle), and jewel placement on most of her pieces. It all seemed to bring “Swan Lake” to mind. In several occasions, she combined metallic colored fabrics with lace in the most unconventional way. I even fell in love with the makeup and hair. Although it was simplistic, the braided up do and shimmered cheeks were perfection. This uniform look complimented the wardrobe to a tee. One outfit that I wish was placed in my closet is the white and blue dress with the cutouts on her sides. The bottom half of her dress was complimentary colors of blue and green. The top half of the dress was white with an open back and had pearl buttons. It was as if it were a ball gown that came straight out of the Victorian era—with a modern twist. But nonetheless, it was breathtaking. Her looks and trends are absolute essentials for this upcoming spring.

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Mark & Estel: On the opposite side of the spectrum, lies Mark & Estel. For SS15, Mark and Estel delivered a sense that black was the “it” color. (Isn't black the only color in fashion?) And while you may disagree that black isn’t known to signify spring and summer, they push boundaries in every occasion. I also want to note how The Salon was decorated for their show: modern wooden benches were placed along the runway and the backdrop where models enter and exit were lit with a dim yellow light. It added a little bit of color to the monochromatic scheme in the show. I love that runway shows could be decorated in the most elaborate ways or even simplistic and bare. The first thing that caught my eye was the big floppy hats and the loose black and white garments. I have an obsession with hats and that won me over. Mark and Estel utilizes black boots, zippers, chains, flowing fabrics continuously through their line and it all covered the “bad girl” look. One thing I loved about the outfits were the long tulle bow ties. It polished the pieces more and added a little texture to the outfit. The designers ended the show with a live performance and a few words, stating “We love fashion. You are fashion. We love you!”

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If you are interested in watching the show, check out the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week site for details on which designers are live. If you see a designer that you love and cannot watch, have no fear! They post these shows on YouTube in case you miss them. Make sure you stay tuned for this week’s fun!

The Fashion Enthusiast,

Tresha Mae Pontillo

Fashion Board Member