Of The Moment: Fall Preview (Part 4)

Fall is rapidly approaching so I guess I really need to get on the ball with my fall preview! Here are some more of my favorite runway collections...

Eley Kishimoto

Click for full-size or view the whole collection here.

The look:
Style.com calls it "Japanese kawaii meets Welsh eccentric," but to me this collection looks more '60s harlequin. If Marc Bolan had a troop of glam court jesters following him around, they'd probably be dressed something like this.

How to cop it:
Invest in some white tights and build up the confidence to sport them in public under hemlines both screamingly short (swingy minidresses and hot pants in kindergarten colors) and sweetly demure (knee-length skirts both full and slim). This collection is all about playing with color and prints -- seek out items with bold patterns in Eley Kishimoto's color palette of teal, mustard, periwinkle, lavender, and orange. Mix together with abandon and strong, blunt bangs. Somehow, it works.

Elie Tahari

Click for full-size or view the whole collection here.

The look:
A lush, studied mixture of chunky knits, simply sexy dresses, and menswear-inspired details. The look is covered up and aloof -- re-imagine yourself as the dean's daughter at Cambridge and look down your nose at anyone showing even a hint of forearm.

How to cop it:
The key piece of this collection was a chunky knit sweater, cinched at the waist -- if you want to work toward a look similar to Elie Tahari's, you'll want to eschew all of your coats in favor similar knits. Other components include austere pencil skirts, turtleneck sweaters, utilitarian leather gloves hitting at the middle of the forearm, and the most opaque of black tights. What makes this covered-up look so stealthily sexy is the way things are artfully layered and then tightened where it counts -- there's no skin showing, but the Elie Tahari look is heavily body-conscious.

Emilio Pucci

Click for full-size or view the whole collection here.

The look:
How else can you describe Pucci except by simply saying "Pucci"? This season's Pucci girl is an ebullient snow bunny who comes from old money and has no qualms about throwing her ski parka on over her cocktail dress before heading down for drinks at the lodge.

How to cop it:
Let's face it -- nobody makes prints like Pucci, so instead pull from the feel of the collection, re-imagining it in bold solids or strong graphic prints that might be easier to get our paws on. The look is about casual glamour and juxtaposition -- puffer coats are worn with thigh-skimming minidresses and lace-up boots. Look for a really good parka in an eye-catching color (something with a lot of faux fur around the collar would be ideal), and then be fearless about wearing it with sexy dresses for nighttime.

Gucci

Click for full-size or view the whole collection here.

The look:
One of the sexiest and most sophisticated labels there is does its take on ethnic bohemian, and it comes out looking rich, edgy, and 100% chic -- but then, there's nothing surprising about that, is there?

How to cop it:
Full disclosure: this is the look I'll be drawing from heavily as we roll into fall and winter. How could I not? Gucci's Fall '08 look is all about the rich hippie (my favorite!) -- fringe, fur, and gypsy decadence -- but it's taken a step further by getting inspiration from Eastern Europe and the Orient. Seek out peasanty flower-child pieces, surely, but pair them with sharp black and pile on the accessories for a more up-to-the-minute take. The items you'll want to scour flea markets for: fringed boots, embroidered vests, carpetbags, and anything with fur.


Jenni Kayne

Click for full-size or view the whole collection here.

The look:
The quintessential New York girl moves to L.A., adopts a touch -- but just a touch -- of color into her wardrobe, and makes subtle references to menswear, grunge, and the Hollywood '40s.

How to cop it:
This look is so unusual, I'll be interested to see who will be working its influence in the coming season. The collection is all over the board, so draw inspiration from its feel as a whole or replicate a single look to the best of your ability -- either way no one else at the party will be dressed like you. My first step would be to get on Ebay and not log out until you've found a fur stole (vintage or faux, natch) that can be wrapped around the neck or draped over the shoulders vest-style. You'll also want to work on pairing very classic looks -- a white tank top and a black skirt or pants, for example -- with unexpected details. Look for architectural shoes in pop-art shades and accessories that reference Kurt Cobain without getting too obvious.


Coming up: Jovovich-Hawk, Just Cavalli, Karen Walker, Katy Rodriguez, and Kris Van Assche. Play along at home!