A Tribute to the Olden Days

From last week to the end of February, fashion journalists, editors, buyers and fans alike converged in New York to witness New York's Fashion Week Fall/Winter 07-08 showcase. From Adam+Eve to Zero by Maria Cornejo, spectators were served with an assortment of styles with most of them are influenced by the past. Of course one may expect the attendance of celebrities and glitteratis on the show with the Hilton sisters Paris and Nicky gracing the Heatherette runway last year's Spring/Summer 07 runway show.

For the next six months, that's until maple trees starts to shed its flaming red and brown leaves to the ground followed by the thick sheet of snow blanket on the top of your roof, grandmother's closet, the silhouettes of 80's and the Depression eras, Mondrian prints in screaming hues and post-Russian Revolution are some of the featured inspirations for the upcoming season. Again, dominating the color charts are the dark and warming colors of black, navy blue and a sprinkle of whites.

Duo designer Carmen Hawk and model/actress Milla Jovovich gathered ideas and images from various sources such as the avant-garde movies of Kenneth Anger and the album covers of Roxy Music plus the antique feel of grandma's old attic. These ideas and images were then interpreted into a stunning collection of floaty dresses with pouf sleeves, striped suit and frame bags made out of chiffons with beads and patchwork detailing.

The emigration of Russians to Paris after the revolution is the theme for British designer Alice Temperley. For the Fall collection, expect more structured yet ultra feminine pieces from the designer such as Victorian jackets, wide trousers and tulip skirts.

Veteran designer and the new CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg opens her show, the first after her official appointment, with her signature design, the wrap dress. One wrap dress featured a Mondrian-inspired color blocks in the shades of fuschia, red, black and clay with a matching jacket. A hint of Spanish influence can be traced in her new collection.

Just like the previous season and now, it seems that leggings and belts, either wide or double and triple, have been christened as the evergreen accessories and must-wear item through their ubiquitous presence in almost all Fall/Winter collection for 2007/08.

Of course, the NY Fashion Week would be incomplete without spotting the who's who of the fashion, publishing and entertainment industry. Spotted at the shows were Britney Spears, the ubiquitous Olsen sisters and socialite/artist Ahn Duong to name a few.

At the meantime, the Spring/Summer 07 collection is in stores now and be sure to get your hands on them. Diane Von Furstenberg and Jovovich-Hawk are availabe at TriBeCa Suria KLCC while Temperley by Alice Temperley is available at Podium.

*Photos by Marcio Madeira for Vogue and Style.com

TriBeCa - First Floor, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Podium - Explore Floor, Starhill Gallery, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.