CHARLOTTE RONSON: Ronson described her collection as “classical meets street” and she had that right. With timeless pieces like a structured, pale pink blazer being mixed with more contemporary items like a plaid shirt and mottled grey skinny jeans, the designer bought a decidedly 80s aesthetic to her collection. With an on-trend black jumpsuit making an appearance and an acid wash bodysuit, there’s no doubt that her collection will be popular when it hits the stores.
CYNTHIA STEFFE: This season’s collection from Cynthia Steffe brought an appealing mix of hippie vs rock chic, with floral prints and fringe detail sharing the catwalk with tough ankle boots, denim jackets and leather-look skirts. The Fall 2009 trend of one-shoulder pieces is ever present at Cynthia Steffe (and elsewhere). With loose, boho chic hair, this collection was easy to please and totally wearable.
ERIN WASSON X RVCA: Erin Wasson’s first runway collection brought an excited crowd. Following the noise on Twitter, it seemed like Bruce Willis was a huge attraction! The clothes definitely had the Wasson-vibe that young fashionistas have come to know and love; unkempt hair, ultra-short shorts, shredded leather and loose tees. Erin’s collection looks to be filled with clothes that she would wear herself so we’ll no doubt see a lot of Wasson-worshipers buying it up from the stores.
JASON WU: Although Jason Wu’s Spring 2010 collection doesn’t hold much promise for his most famous fan, first lady Michelle Obama, there is a lot for the rest of us. Filled with bright separates like the purple bubble skirt above, printed tops, ribboned belts and flirtatious cocktail dresses, the collection definitely has a more modern, sexier aesthetic this time around. Also, sunglasses! The designer added four styles and has promised handbags and more accessories to come.
PREEN: The Preen show started out neutral – as in, neutral colors – grays, silvers, nudes. There were silhouettes reminiscent of their Fall 2009 collection, such as the asymmetrical bandage dress, and updated silhouettes. As the collection went on, the highlights started to show. The neon pink details, totally evocative of the 80s, hidden among the black lace pants (above) and a lace dress, were definitely one of the best features.
RAG & BONE: Rag & Bone’s Spring 2010 collection seemed to contain more on-trend separates than any other, with blazers, harem pants and draped tees all making an appearance. Everything about their latest collection screamed cool and is sure to pop up on a zillion celebrities. Rag & Bone are also expanding (like Jason Wu) by adding sunglasses, belts and boots to their line.
YIGAL AZROUËL: The Yigal Azrouël show brought a lot of muted tones to the runways, with mostly grays, dark blues and whites appearing. The collection was filled with separates perfect for layering, including a selection of asymmetrical swimwear and bandeau tops, which are great for layering underneath your slinky tanks and with harem pants (see above). Other notable pieces were an acid wash leather jacket and an exception to his color rule, a bright orange cocktail dress.
(L-R) NICOLE MILLER, WILLIAM RAST, RUFFIAN, CUSHNIE ET OCHS: Although the Nicole Miller show had a heavy dose of romanticism, plenty of pieces also contained a healthy amount of danger, with metallic skinny pants and chunky sandals making an appearance. At William Rast, there wasn’t a huge departure from the Fall 2009 season but that was understandable for a brand that revolves around denim. They featured skintight pants and leather jackets in their usual, hip style. The Ruffian collection featured military-inspired jackets and voluminous miniskirts with strappy sandals and a watercolor palette. At Cusnie et Ochs, they showed off a mix of silhouettes, with loose-fit, draped pieces sharing the runway with more strong, structured outlines, topped off with mesh inserts and on-trend cutouts.
