Seventy-two designers will show their fall/winter 2017 collections at New York Fashion Week: The Shows from February 9 until February 16. This year IMG, the organizers of the parade of shows, have relocated the event from midtown to lower Manhattan.
“We’re consolidating,” said Catherine Bennett, the senior vice president, managing director for IMG fashion events.
“We’ve taken an expanded footprint down at Skylight Clarkson. We’ll have three venues down in that venue. And we’re also adding a presentation space at Industria.”
The largest space will hold 750 people.
Technology will continue to play a big part during the week with each show being broadcast online.
“We live-stream all of our shows and we also have a number of designers that just operate on our digital footprint. So designers that are not showing on our physical footprint still can participant in our overall umbrella through streaming of shows.”
The live streams not only give fashion fans a chance to see new looks first, but also purchase them right away with the see now, buy now model.
“There’s been a big shift during fashion week from designers showing a season and sending a collection down the runway that you’re not going to see for six months to this see now, buy now model. Tommy Hilfiger was really instrumental in doing this. Rebecca Minkoff.”
In recent years more designers have embraced using models of different races and sizes, that advancement in variety will also been seen in the collections.
“We’re also seeing a lot of designers show spring as well with their see now buy now collection. So it’s actually a mix. And there is more diversity than ever before in what’s coming down the runway,” said HollywoodLife.com fashion director, Katrina Mitzeliotis.
What’s old is new again as trends from the past are expected to take over the runway.
“The 70’s were a real dominant trend we’ve been seeing on the runways for a few seasons. However for spring we’re seeing more of an 80’s resurgence from ruffles to voluminous shoulders, one shoulder dresses. So we’re kind of shifting away from it. But at the same time the flared denim is definitely going to make a major comeback this fall,” said Mitzeliotis.
Menswear is expected to come into play both for spring and for fall.
“We have here a bomber jacket kind of borrowing from the boys, again in a fun pattern. We’re mixing prints on this Rachel, Rachel Roy jacket,” explained Mitzeliotis.
Mitzeliotis said pantsuits and power suits will have a major resurgence.
“We’re seeing celebrities not wear gowns for award season and they’re actually wearing pantsuits right on the red carpet. And you can total make the look your own. A nice way to update it, designers are definitely going to be sending a lot in sumptuous fabrics down the runway. So from velvets to satins to silks, you can totally take it from day to night.”
Fun with fur will come in many colors.
“We saw it everywhere from Roberto Cavalli, Christian Siriano, Carolina Herrera. I definitely think the trend is going to continue. And when it comes to colors statement outerwear is all about having fun in vibrant hues and even patterns. And I definitely think pink is really popular, we’re going to see it a lot for spring.”
Logo t-shirts, chunky sweaters and statement earrings are also expected to play a major part in collections this season.
Last year approximately 100,000 people attended the seven day event. Collections from designers Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Kanye West are among the most anticipated.
REUTERS
