Fashion Week Looks for Your Engagement Party

 

Looking for the latest looks to wear to your engagement party? Style expert Michael O’Connor recaps this year’s New York Fashion Week and highlights the hottest trends.

Just as New York is preparing to head into the harsh months of winter, New York Fashion Week popped up to buoy our spirits through the cold months and give us something to look forward to – or back at! Disco and mellow 70’s music played on the speakers while big-haired models strutted hot pant and jump suits. Flowers bloomed on runways, poked their heads out from tote bags, sprouted from models’ hair and were applied and printed on skirts, coats and dresses. Spring fun was definitely in the air!

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Oscar de la Renta Badgley Mishka

Looks ranged from Western Chic, by Ralph Lauren, to Palm Beach boardwalk, by Michael Kors, to Park Avenue pretty by Badgley Mischka and Oscar de la Renta. Gorgeous natural fabrics like raw linens, chunky cottons, hemp and luxurious leathers formed the basis for many of the collections, and designers created playful contrast by juxtaposing fabrics, such as leather and lace, and contrasting patterns, such as “faded wallpaper prints” and sheer striped silks.

Overall, garment structure and silhouettes were softer resulting in great movement and a fluid, elegant ease. This softness and movement was augmented by enhancements and overlays of fringe, ruffle, lace and tulle, and there was a distinct lack of flashy embellishment. Neutral tones such as white, cream, sand, silver (seemingly the favorites) and black were punctuated mainly by blue, green and lavender and orange.

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Derek Lam Marc Jacobs

An homage to the 70’s played out across many of the shows. Designers from Badgley Mischka to Diane Von Furstenberg to Marc Jacobs gave us back the 70’s fun. Marc showed shiny pastel big pants and hot pants. Derek Lam gave his nod to the 70’s with bell-bottoms. Some trends worth noting are the higher waistlines and many lower hemlines. Additionally, and since we’re talking spring, get out your sunscreen and ab-crunchers because peek-a-boo shoulders, one-shoulder dresses and bare stomachs are hot, as shown by Elie Tahari and Y-3.

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And what does all this mean for accessories? White will continue to be a major color for jewelry and accessories – since it goes with everything. Colored gems and colored diamonds will be equally important to create contrast. We’re seeing 70’s and have already seen the popular return of aviator style sunglasses. Remember to pick yourself up a pair of big oversized shades in a funky color – think Jackie O meets Elton John.

Unusual materials will continue to gain popularity in both jewelry and accessories with high/low mixes. Larger jewelry pieces will continue to be popular with bigger earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Big, bold and layered bangles in everything from wood, ceramic and bone to gold and platinum with diamonds. The key here is that you can get that high-fashion look by stacking and layering them together – so mix and match to your hearts content. Now that the waist is the new waist, cinching belts, especially wrap style and ob- style belts and bigger buckled styles will be popular.

For hair and makeup it’s still about highlighting one area — orangey-coral colored lips or eyes with black liner and white shadow with taupe, beige or gold accent. Hair is either big and frizzy (get out those crimping irons) or done in loose non-fussy braids, either down or in updos.

–Michael O’Connor

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