Green Cotton

Doo.Ri at NY Fashion Week

Last week, fashion lovers saw a scaled-back version of New York’s Fall Fashion Week. Fewer designers showed at the tents than usual; many regulars, like Vera Wang and Betsey Johnson, opted for showroom presentations instead. The recession was reflected in many collections, but, in most cases, this turned out to be a good thing. Doom and gloom may be prevalent in the economy, but Fashion Week’s spunky designers showed that it doesn’t rule the runways.

Donna Karan, DKNY and Victoria Beckham offered modern, minimalist designs with mix-and-match potential, perfect for stretching a wardrobe budget.
Marc Jacobs drew heavily upon eighties’ excess for inspiration, resurrecting slick, spiky hairstyles and even shoulder pads to recall a time when “creative people could afford to live in [the] city.”

DKNY, NY Fashion Week

Michael Kors, too, had an eighties moment, applying unexpected splashes of neon to an otherwise neutral palette. And to drive home the point that the eighties are back in full force, Kors one-upped Jacobs’ shoulder pads with another bygone accessory: arm warmers. And he even managed to make them look office-appropriate!

Michael Kors at NY Fashion Week

Christian Siriano seemed to have the most fun with neutrals, showing luscious silks and organza clothes drenched in shades of chocolate, mocha and latte, paired perfectly with mauve, bronze and turquoise. And he was, perhaps, the most budget-friendly, outfitting his models with Payless shoes of his own design.

Christian Siriano at NY Fashion Week

Alexander Wang, Doo.Ri and Rag & Bone all showed updated versions of fall 2008’s glam rock goddess. Alexander Wang added polish with a sparkling dress and snakeskin blazer. Doo.Ri (featured top) used sophisticated touches of silver atop basic black and a slim silhouette. Rag & Bone made rock ‘n’ roll look downright cozy, topping leather leggings with chunky knitwear, scarves, and pops of blue and red. Later, the same leggings were paired with a snug charcoal-hued coat.

Diane Von Furstenburg gave us exotic patterns, animal prints and opulent hats straight out of a global bazaar. Matthew Williamson also went the exotic route, but with a distinct Native American flare.

Diane Von Furstenburg at NY Fashion Week

And the always-entertaining Izaac Mizrahi delivered a zany range of colors—and an inventive new way to wear handbags!

If this year’s Fall Fashion Week has taught us anything, it’s that a fall wardrobe – on any budget – need never be boring, and you can always accessorize with whatever you have on hand!

Isaac Mizrahi at NY Fashion Week

And some eco-friendly ideas on how to rock the best fall fashion styles? If you bought any trendy pieces last fall, use ‘em again this year. Update them with those special touches, like a global necklace, wide belt and sky-high footwear. Buy vintage, organic, or fair trade as often as you can, and have fun mixing and matching! Don’t let the recession put a crimp in your style—let it inspire you to get creative with the pieces you already own. What do you think of the New York fashion shows? Tell us about your impressions.

*All photos are from New York Magazine, nymag.com and hyperlinks to the sources are listed for each designer above.

By Erin Dale

Vera Wang Collection at NY Fashion Week, 2008

New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and Green Cotton has been tracking the trends. Last week we showed you how designers have embraced the haute hippie with earthy, sixties and seventies-inspired looks. This week we’re zeroing in on another hot runway look, but we’re not going to just discuss the trend— we’re also going to show you some awesome eco-friendly clothes and accessories that will help you rock the latest runway styles in greener, guilt-free fashion.

As evidenced in several collections, the boho-chic trend is still thriving this coming spring season, but some fashion experts think “boho-rock” is this trend’s second life. Fusing the bohemian free spirit with a heavy metal attitude, this tough-yet-girly look is a fun way to shake up an otherwise basic wardrobe.

Check out these looks from the following New York Fashion Week designers:

Rodarte Collection, NY Fashion Week

Rodarte displayed classic rock-and-roll style with short leather jackets and skinny black pants, a major standout from their funky shredded sweater dresses.

Rag and Bone, NY Fashion Week, 2008

Rag & Bone’s blazer, skinny pants, studded belt and shiny flats gave rock star glam a little preppy polish.

DKNY Collection, NY Fashion Week, 2008

DKNY also paired a blazer with punky accessories: a pink rock t-shirt dress, chains and high-top sneakers.

If you want to flip-flop the pink and black color combo, try this look from Alexander Wang (featured below): a sparkly black top with gauzy black shorts, an oversized pink blazer, and some of the coolest shoes from all of Fashion Week.

Vera Wang (collection featured top), who favors gothic romance, sent a gorgeous glammed-up rocker look down her runway: a silver silk tunic with a long black vest, black cigarette pants, chains and crystalline embellishments.

If you think you can’t rock this look with eco-friendly wares, think again. Eco-fashion tends to be branded as anything but on-trend, but eco-fashionistas know that “organic” and “sustainable” doesn’t have to mean crunchy or boring! So grab your favorite vintage band t-shirt and try these on for size:

Edun’s “Sage” straight leg jeans in “Raven” (featured above) deserve star status in any eco-conscious closet! Founded by Bono, his wife Ali Hewson and designer Rogan Gregory, Edun is a socially conscious clothing company that specializes in organic style. These jeans are perfect for a night out with a vintage bomber jacket.

Try teaming them with a pair of wedge heels from Mohop (featured above). The black ribbons on these add a touch of gothic glamour. These shoes would also look hot with a frayed denim mini and black sweater tights, or these studded bamboo leggings by Covet (featured below):

Of course, no rock star outfit would be complete without awesome accessories. This sterling silver filigree butterfly necklace by Catherine Weitzman echoes the gothic romance-esque jewelry seen on Vera Wang’s models. It’s available from the Brooklyn boutique Sodafine, which features vintage, handmade and eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

Finish your look with Matt & Nat’s Tate (featured above) tote in grey. It’s made from recycled materials but has the look of leather, sure to please nature-loving and vegan fashionistas alike!

And have fun searching for your own eco-fashion finds, whether you want to follow the trends or express your unique style. Please let us know what you think of this trend and others from New York Fashion Week. And be sure to check back at Green Cotton as we track London looks from their Fashion Week!

All pictures in this post are from NYmag.com

Post By Erin Dale

Above: Diane Von Furstenburg Collection

Here at Green Cotton, we look at fashion from an eco-eye, discussing sustainable fabrics, fair trade practices, and eco-friendly options for the most discerning fashionista. New York Fashion Week, hardly an all-green event (yet), gives us an opportunity to spy the trends and find “greener” ways to rock them.
I’ve been peeking at the collections all week, and my favorite designers have not disappointed. While there haven’t been any eco shows since last week’s Be EcoChic event, plenty of designers have been showing boho-chic looks that unite the “haute” and the “hippie.”

For a brief fashion history lesson, the term “boho-chic” was coined in the early 2000s to describe the style of British It-Girls Kate Moss and Sienna Miller (fashion lovers to this day continue to dispute which one actually started the trend). Some sources (including a Wikipedia entry) claim that this trend reached its height in 2004-5, and the derivations we’re seeing now can be classified as “boho rock,” even “goth-rock.”

You’ll notice hints of gothic in this fall’s fashions, carrying over from the Fall 2008 collections shown this past spring. But the free-spirited boho look was even more prominent on the runways. Badgley Mischka and Just Cavalli took a trip to the 1970s with relaxed fits and floppy hats. D&G showed tartans, checks and plaids that had a playful, down-home feel. But Gucci best embodied the “haute hippie” and elevated her to rock star glory: right at home with earthy prints and flowing scarves were fringed boots, black skinny pants, bare shoulders and chunky chains.

Despite the debate over its dwindling relevance, boho-chic is clearly still alive and well on the Spring 2009 runways!

Diane Von Furstenburg (featured above) showed plenty of bright colors and dared to mix prints, giving her line a flower child vibe that she dubbed “Rock Goddess.”

Photo: Charlotte Ronson Collection

Charlotte Ronson’s flowy dresses and floral patterns are simple yet chic, exuding peaceful, natural beauty.

Photo: Miss Sixty’s Collection

In Miss Sixty’s very 70s spring collection, scarves, sunglasses and denim onesies abound, with loose silhouettes and bright patterns reminiscent of groovier times.

Photo: Jill Stuart’s Collection

Jill Stuart used a pastel palette to transport the wearer back to the 70s, complete with butterfly sleeves, asymmetrical hemlines, draping scarves and the occasional chunky knit.

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Anna Sui’s boho girls were sweet as Swiss misses, but still had a rock-and-roll edge. The collection displays a wide range of shapes, from prairie blouses and skirts to sheaths and caftans, along with a dizzying array of colors (orange, fuchsia, royal blue and more rainbow brights compete with a few all-black ensembles) and patterns (floral, geometric shapes, beaded embellishments, even a paisley “peacock” look). There are so many looks, it almost appears the designer couldn’t make up her mind, but the overall bohemian spirit makes the collection feel cohesive.

Photo: Nanette Lepore’s Collection

Nanette Lepore gave the earthy girl a new level of sophistication. She’s grounded her in floral patterns and earth tones but dressed her up in blazers and high-waisted shorts, giving her polish and a slimmer silhouette. This collection shows, perhaps, where the boho-chic trend is headed, but not without a nod to the past: a few baby-dolls and crocheted knits peeked out from bright trenches and slinky silks.

What do you think of the boho-chic trend? Do you think it will still be going strong next season? How do you think it coincides with (or not) the eco-fashion movement? Let us know your thoughts….

Post By Erin Dale