Carolina Herrera & Diana Von Furstenberg 2009
DVF & Herrera Spring 09 Collections at New York Fashion Week
Sep 9, 2008
It is that time year again, when the spotlight returns to the runways of New York City for the New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009, with all the glamour, glitter and parties that New York does so well.
Since Friday 5th September, 2008, A-list celebrities, the fashion elite, and the world’s press have been congregating in the Big Apple for a frenzied feast of next spring's forthcoming fashion.
The first few days saw two of the most loved American designers, Diana Von Furstenberg (runway show 7th September, 2008), the queen of the wrap dress, and Caroline Herrera, (runway show 8th September, 2008), most famous for her white shirts. Popular with the ladies-who-lunch set, both Furstenberg and Herrera offered-up some socialitewear extraordinaire.
Diana Von Furstenberg Ready-to Wear Collection Spring 2009
Watched by celebrity fashion-icons Jennifer Lopez and Urma Thurman, Diana Von Furstenberg’s RTW Spring 09 collection embodies the hippie chic of the 60s. Her models’ hair were adorned with silk flowers and feathers and the whole RTW collection has a distinct hippie-rock princess yet fairy-like feel
There were bold colors (yellows, purples, oranges and pinks)and flirty dresses, including updated versions of DVF’s famous wrap. The collections included a versatile butterfly print, monochrome tunic dresses and DVF’s signature white featured heavily, with feminine dresses and waistcoated pantsuits. A long-sleeved white lace dress continued to promote the recent 2008 craze for lace (courtesy of Miucca Prada) into 2009.
No DVF spring collection would be complete without florals, and there were flower-prints aplenty in maxi dresses and skirts, and some billowy trousers in transparent florals. Fringes, tiers and pleats featured heavily in many designs, adding a touch of elegance to some of the more transparent styles. One of the most stunning pieces was a sleeveless heavily jewel-embellished purple shift.
The Spring 2009 collection is less simple shirt dress and more bazaar chic. Colorful DVF seasonal prints are more akin to exotic holiday dressing than workwear.
Carolina Herrera Ready-to Wear Collection Spring 2009
Venezuelan born American designer Carolina Herrera makes clothes that are classic but with a modern twist. She is a red carpet favorite of many celebrities, including Renée Zellweger, of Bridget Jones Diary fame.
Following on from her recent successful Resort 09 collection, Carolina Herrera’s designs for Spring 09 embodied the looks of her ladies-who-lunch, with their recession-proof portfolios. In addition to her traditional monochromes, there was a spring-like palette with marigold and hibiscus. Outfits were adorned with ruffles, satin and chiffon but there was less of the embellishment of previous collections.
Herrera’s Spring collection offered satin and gabardine jackets and cigarette pants, cropped at this year’s fashionably new 7/8th length.
From maxi dresses to party-frocks, dresses were key to Herrera’s collection, with lingerie-like mille-feuille chiffon, silhouette enhancing ruffles and corseted cocktail gowns. A unique departure in fabric was a black raffia dress, in which Style.com’s (Carolina Herrera Runway Review Spring 09) Nicole Phelps remarks “don’t even try sitting down in that one!”
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