Courtesy of @area.
As New York Fashion Week comes to a close, and we’ve less than 24-hours of a breather before London kicks off, we’re taking this time to recap on our favourite accessory trends from the past week’s shows. From ethical mermaid glitter at Gypsy Sport to babies, babies, babies on multiple runways, we’re loving these unexpected outfit additions. And if potted plants and puppies are suddenly an trend—we’ll be first in line.
Eco-friendly glitter at Gypsy Sport
All that glitters is… usually a microplastic that isn’t biodegradable and essentially, lasts forever. Basically, everyone’s favourite go-to Christmas decor is a major contributor to marine pollution and climate change. Sorry to be the party-pooper here. While it’s a well known fact that fashion is one of the most environmentally unfriendly industries, some brands are working hard to change its negative image. New York-based label Gypsy Sport brought all of our glittery, otherworldly, marine inspired fantasies to life, but without taking a devastating toll on the aquatic habitats they were clearly influenced by. Several models stormed the runway in full body glitter resembling high fashion glitterati Avatars. A show stopping choice for the runway, it was also a sustainable one—the make up artists used BioGlitz, a biodegradable answer to glitter with no compromise on the sparkle and no adverse effects on the environment.
Crystal-embellished beards are here to stay via Area
Although androgyny and glitter beards—a bizarre Instagram trend that can be spotted on burly bears at Pride parades—aren’t exactly new fashion trends, but design-duo Area have put their own spin on it for their SS20 collection. Oozing in glamour and dripping in shimmering embellishment, their presentation was powerful, sexy and spectacularly feminine. Amidst the Victorian-inspired crystal embellished cage dresses, voluminous skirts, billowing sleeves, and couture silhouettes, however, were cascading crystal beards hooked behind model’s ears. Paired with oversized tailoring, it was a playful exploration of gender roles and the clichés associated with them. Area is designing for the modern woman who seamlessly transitions from her C-level job to the glitziest dancefloors in NYC, crystal beard in tow. And no need even to mention the incedible bedazzled jewellery pieces. More is more.
Breast pumps replace the ‘it’ bag at Rebecca Minkoff
Rebecca Minkoff is a mother, wife, designer and businesswoman, and her clothes are an ode to the multifaceted 21st century woman. In a bid to address society’s double standards, Minkoff chose to include a breastfeeding mother in her presentation, fuschia breast pump and all. Against a backdrop of mock office sets with Dolly Parton’s working woman anthem “9 to 5” blaring, Minkoff opted for a presentation format rather than a runway show to put the viewer into the environment of the woman she designs for. As if all of this weren’t cool enough already, she’s also partnering with Stitch Fix to release a capsule collection with sizes ranging from XXS to 3X, far beyond what most high-end designers are offering. While some women are sporting the hottest new micro-bags, working mothers are more likely accessorising with diaper bags and breast pumps (and looking no less chic.)
Babies, plants and puppies at Collina Strada and Kate Spade
Although Kate Spade ordinarily caters to a more uptown crowd, and Collina Strada more to the uber eco-conscious Brooklynite hippies, their runway shows at NYFW had a few unusual accessories in common—babies, puppies, and a variety of flora. While Spade’s models flaunted potted plants sprouting gargantuan leaves and freshly cut bouquets they could have picked up from their personal florist, Strada’s models carried bundles of kale and fresh fruits and veggies. Although it was quite a lengthy production at 34 minutes, Strada’s show had a sense of urgency to it—her collection was almost entirely sustainably sourced and guests were greeted at their seats with recycled shopping bags and a written plea to take steps towards sustainability. After the spectacle, guests were encouraged to bring home produce and flowers, so nothing was put to waste. Meanwhile, Spade’s show was inspired by the classic 1911 English children’s novel, The Secret Garden, and was thus a bit more refined as opposed to Strada’s DIY aesthetic.
Tots were the other hot ticket at this NYFW, with both Spade and Strada sending baby toting models down their runways, proving that both brands are catering to real people. Strada took this a step further by enlisting an entire family to walk her show in an adorable display—a mother walked proudly with her two daughters, big sister wheeling her younger sister in a stroller. Both shows were refreshingly diverse and inclusive in casting, even including some canine friends—one per sh0w, to be more specific.
Spectacular sunglasses and hats, hats, hats at Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs’ held the coveted closing spot on New York Fashion Week’s schedule, and rightfully so—this season’s show did not disappoint. From the flower child hippies of the ‘60s to the disco divas of the ‘70s, the collection was a trip through the decades and dripping in references, including several tweed suits in homage to his late friend, Karl Lagerfeld. In true Jacobs style, close attention was paid to the minutiae of every look. From the makeup, to the hair (even if obscured by a hood or a hat), to the walk down the runway, each look represented a different character—a remarkable accomplishment in a show comprising of 60 looks. This level of craftsmanship extended to the accessories. Models wore massive multicoloured butterfly shaped, Elton John-esque sunglasses that corresponded with their looks. It’s clear that Jacobs also hasn’t tired of the Western influence, with plenty of ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots stomping on the catwalk. Several of the ruffled confections in the show almost resembled a couture shower loofah, and this was also translated into voluminous hats. Jacobs’ ceremonious end-of-show bow marks the end of yet another season of New York Fashion Week, and what a joyous closing it was.