Marissa Webb Spring 2013
Print may be a dying breed when it comes to traditional publications, but it’s very much alive on the spring runways where Marissa Webb, formerly of J. Crew, made her New York Fashion Week debut this season. Will the typical J. Crew shopper have a new go-to brand? We think so. Webb’s tie-dye pieces will be a love-it-or-leave it proposition, but we’re firmly camped on the “love it” side of the fence. Webb offered her dye job on blouses, rompers and more, giving dye-hards a piece to reach for whether they’re going to work or play.
Herve Leger Spring 2013
It’s a surprise every time Herve Leger deviates from their straight-and-narrow bandage dress oeuvre, but when they do it well, it’s an eye-catching, attention-grabbing statement. Not only did the label move away from its skintight roots with softer silhouettes (there were a few second-skin looks for brand purists), they added a new dimension into their weaving to create graphic, geometric prints. The colors combined to create zigzags and chevrons and Max Azria added shots of shimmer and shine. Basic black it isn’t, and seeing as how fans of the brand probably have solid-colored bandage dresses in droves, these patterns are one way for Azria to inject Herve Leger with new life.
Prabal Gurung Spring 2013
Prabal Gurung by Sally Hansen
Prabal Gurung‘s show notes cited Anish Kapoor and Amie Dicke as inspirations, but what that meant on the runway was drippy, abstract florals shot through with what looked like a bleeding heart — which is exactly what the models wore on their nails courtesy of Tracylee at Sally Hansen. Blood-stained fingernails aside (we’re not sure if that qualifies as a print, per se), the dresses and blouses featuring modern art prints were often embellished with feathers and beading, giving the complex, cerebral prints another layer. Was it too much? At times. We weren’t quite scratching our heads, but we do think that the prints aren’t for the faint of heart. Fans of fashion, on the other hand, will be sharpening their talons for these cerebral prints when they hit the racks.
Alexander Wang Spring 2013
For the anti-print, heads turned at Alexander Wang, where the collection was done entirely in black and white (and a whole lot of skin). Instead of using traditional prints, the finale of the show dropped the house lights and suddenly, what appeared to be white dresses simply glowed in the dark. Sound like a page right out of Star Trek? Wang’s always been one to embrace new fabrics and use them in off-kilter ways (remember his use of neoprene or silk webbing?).
A light show to finish off a collection that included jilted model Liberty Ross certainly commands the attention of the fashion media, but we’re eager to see if it lights up the racks at stores as well.
Photos courtesy Style.com and the Cut
