NYFW AW15 Day 2

I wore: Shrimps coat, Bella Freud jumper, Banana Republic skirt, SENSO boots and Sophie Hulme tote with Via Clouds hat & pom pom
Image by Lord Ashbury

NYFW AW15 day 2 got off to an every-so-slightly unpleasant start thanks to my thinking it would be an absolutely awesome idea to go dancing at Up and Down after the SUNO after party. Some people never learn and clearly I am one of them! Luckily I did manage to haul myself out of bed in time to make the Lacoste show by the skin on my teeth and damn, am I glad I made it…

Lacoste AW15

Rene may have done it first but Lacoste’s current Creative Director, Felipe Oliveira Baptista did it in a way that felt wholly cool and covetable for 2015. Tennis has been the brand’s life blood since the 1930’s and one might understandably start to wonder when said reference would start to seem a little tired. Well, evidently not any time soon judging by this collection. Drawing inspiration from the sport’s winter incarnation, Baptista offered up neat knitted tennis dresses layered under long line coats, asymmetrically striped dresses, zipped up colour pop tracksuiting and flippy pleated minis styled with skinny rib knits and ice white sneakers. It was a collection that managed to simultaneously be beautifully done and instagram catnip; a strong start to day two from Lacoste.

Thankfully I found myself with a few hours to spare before my next show so pegged it home for a snooze and a whole lot of coffee. Feeling considerably less like a shell of my former self, I braved the cold (HA! I thought it was cold then, little did I know what was coming) and journeyed the few short blocks to the Tibi show. Anything Amy Smilovic does is reliably great but she really took things to a whole new level this season. As all of y’all know, because I say it rather a lot, I have total sartorial split personality. On the whole I’m a perennial prepster with a predilection for anything involving sparkle, eye popping brights and glitter of any description. But then a collection comes along like Tibi AW15 that makes me rethink my entire style identity. You see, a big part of me wants to be the chick who rocks Smilovic’s achingly cool, cool girl clothes. Her minimalism infused femininity, delicious drapery and subtle-yet-luxe texture play that, this season, spanned from low slung suede skirts paired with rich roll neck knits to chiffon pleated panelling and fur lined inside out shearling. Tibi’s AW15 show notes promised a collection inspired by inuit culture, an oft tired influence but one that felt never-before-seen on this occasion thanks to Amy’s unique and original interpretation. Oversized cuts and layers that cried out to be snuggles in strode out alongside asymmetric loosely tailored shorts with pleating styled with slouchy knitwear, wide leg crepe culottes (THE trouser of AW15) and cape like tailoring in a palette of creamy neutrals and delicate pastels.

Tibi AW15

From Amy’s contemporary take on evening wear – long satin tunics worn over matching narrow leg trousers – to the furry flats that had everyone’s iPhones snapping, Tibi AW15 simply oozed ease, slouch and chicer-than-chic insouciance.

I then found myself with another sizeable gap in my schedule, a fact that might ordinarily bore me but on this cold, exhausted and, I’ll admit it, hungover occasion made me seriously happy. Another snooze, several coffees and a reasonable (ish) amount of work later it was time for me to brave the outdoors once again for the Banana Republic presentation. Remember that time J.Crew went from being a fairly “meh” purveyor of decent clobber, with some standout pieces, to the obsessed over, worn by editors and influencers, much coveted brand that we all love and I’m criminally obsessed with? Well, the same thing is happening to Banana Republic as of this season… And then some. Having enlisted uber cool NYC designer, Marissa Webb as Creative Director, Banana Republic stands at the precipice of a Banana Renaissance. Seriously, the clothes on show at Marissa’s first full collection presentation could quite easily have been on the catwalk at the likes of Phillip Lim. We’re talking great quality, modern without being intimidating separates and outerwear, ingeniously styled with maximal layering.

Banana Republic AW15

I cannot say enough great things about this collection and it’s stand out, look-like-luxury accessories. Particularly high on my wish list was a oversized wool aviator style jacket in ice blue (that appeared on my instagram) as well as a highlighter bright pink dress paired with grey tights and all, I mean all, the denim. I really wish this stuff was already in stores, like yesterday.

I have to say, this has been the best NYFW I’ve ever had. And not just because, cold aside, the whole thing has been tons of fun. No, AW15 has been great because of the quality, originality and sheer creative ability of so many of the designer’s whose shows I’ve seen. Case in point, the Isa Arfen and Sandy Liang presentations at MILK Studios. As you may recall, Isa Arfen was one of my most anticipated shows of the season and Seraphina Sama most certainly did not disappoint. The label has been an industry hit pretty much since the word go but AW15 saw it’s founder truly out do herself with a perfect balance of polished femininity and fashion-girl-friendly quirk. Dripping sequinned skirts came paired with oversized, off the shoulder knits and mannish brogues; outerwear was immaculately cut and classically shaped but just the right amount of “off” thanks to it’s shiny, grey PVC fabric. Tailored grey wool and crinkled satin knotted haphazardly at the hip provided eveningwear for those tired of traditional cocktail frocks and acid green lace combined with chocolate corduroy was a deliciously unexpected-yet-brilliant pairing.

Isa Arfen AW15

Across the hall, Sandy Liang’s presentation was packed fit to burst and once I managed to jostle to the front, what I saw took my breath away. Shimmering pink jacquard dress coats and patchworked, pastel blue chubby furs (the latter I spotted Kate Foley rocking the very next day) were statement outerwear I’m itching to wear. All in all, Liang’s collection was definitely a favourite of mine so far. Playful, fun but beautifully executed. This designer is going to be BIG news in the not so distant future.

Sandy Liang AW15

Love Ella. X