Yes, it's that time of the year! Here's the first batch of my favorite fall looks fresh off the New York runways...
Diane von Furstenburg
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
This collection felt more youthful than DVF's often do (in my opinion, anyway) -- the bold graphic prints, while perfectly in keeping with the house's aesthetic, had a fresh, modern feel, and I really liked the pops of green throughout the collection. The standout for me was the floor-sweeping gown at center above with its Epcot-esque circular cutouts, and of course those sunglasses are to die.
M. Patmos
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
This collection is the first for M. Patmos, Marcia Patmos' eponymous line, and it feels like an obvious sequel to the smart, luxurious knits from Patmos' previous collaboration, Lutz & Patmos, which saw its final collection last year. I like the neutral tones and the relaxed fits of the sweaters paired with slim skirts or leather shorts on the bottom; this is sweater dressing made easy yet still somehow very chic.
Gary Graham
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
Gary Graham had me at the Siouxsie-wannabe '80s rocker mullets on his models, and then drove it home with his eclectic mix of vaguely ethnic-feeling prints, styled charmingly with slouchy socks and colorful Converse All-Stars. I like the loose, devil-may-care vibe of the collection, which feels as if it were thrown together from the closet of some super cool punk rock world traveler.
DKNY
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
DKNY is another one that surprised me this season; usually it's a little too buttoned-up for my tastes but I was really feeling the primarily monochromatic, low-key collection that came down the runway for fall '11. The collection had a mod, tomboyish feel that at times came off almost rude-boy-esque (cute!), and the sharpness of the menswear-inspired looks was nicely tempered by sweet Peter Pan-collared minidresses.
Chris Benz
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
Chris Benz went a little darker this season than is typical for him, and I really love it. He's now spending a lot of time in Savannah for his mentorship at SCAD, and he says this collection was touched by his experiences down in Georgia. For sure, the clothes have a Southern gothic feel, but are still imbued with Benz' trademark sense of playfulness.
ADAM
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
Royal blue is going to be everywhere for AW11; the shade has been prevalent in New York all week, and ADAM did it especially well, mixing it with sexy black lace, chunky knits, and a smattering of earthy-feeling neutrals in done in luxe fur and feathers. The collection has a very subtle Native American theme that's touched with a retro, kind of '70s sensibility.
Organic by John Patrick
Click for full size or check out the complete collection here.
I liked Organic's mishmash of styles for fall -- sort of '90s feeling floral prints on floor-sweeping gowns, calf-length skirts, and babydoll dresses, juxtaposed with boxy sweaters and jackets and a few pieces (beaded belts, loopy knit sweaters) that felt vageuly indigenous, all topped off by sick platform Hunter boots (I die!). What I really like about this collection is its ease; you could pull together similarly louche looks out of pieces already in your closet.
More to come as the shows continue! You can follow along at
Style.com and see sneak-peeks of my picks at the
WR2BAM Facebook. What are your favorite looks so far?
