9/17/2008

Fashion Week SS09: Tracy Reese

In transitional months like May and September, when you don't know what to wear, a good bet is black and white. That seemed to be the thinking this weekend as dozens of show goers dressed in absolutes. One of the biggest developments was winter white, right now--though they're usually packed away after Labor Day, white dresses were making an appearance in September.

A study in contrasts--the white says spring/summer while the black tights signal winter.
A bow blouse and flouncy skirt.
She is always a presence at Fashion Week and is never one to shy away from outrageous hats. Before the show, she had to describe to a friend on her cell phone what she was wearing ("hot pink, red, and green!") because the friend couldn't identify her in the crowd. Hilarious.
Winter white right now.
A gorgeous statement necklace.
Admiring Kate Lanphear's blouse. From far away, it looked like winter florals, but it was actually an abstract polka dot pattern--in black and white. Also note that while she rocked the gladiator sandals last Fashion Week, Lanphear has put them away in favor of tough-looking open-toe booties. And of course platforms are par for the course.
This outfit, also captured by the Sartorialist, is not just insanely stylish but also quite comfortable-looking on Sarah Rutson, fashion director of Hong Kong's Lane Crawford. Yes, even the bondage-insprired animal-print stilettos, which are second nature to a fashionista.
Tough chic.
Claiborne Swanson and Virginia Smith of Vogue. Swanson is wearing the boyfriend blazer that will be everywhere next spring; Smith wins for shoes, which also caught Bill Cunningham's eye.
Gorgeous green and white wide-legged pants.

Celebrating the outrageous.

Love her black-and-white bow-neck blouse.

Robert Burke, fashion consultant extraordinaire, in his usual dapper blazer.
Katrina Szish in the most dramatic bow blouse of the day.

Curly hair was one of the biggest beauty trends this fashion week. Put away your straight irons!

It wouldn't be Fashion Week without this guy. He selects the fabric for his suits himself and commissions them, and for the past year or so he's had cute sidekicks. Today's fabric of choice? Black and white.

Two editors from Vibe Magazine.

THE SHOW

Andre Leon Talley was seated front row at the Tracy Reese show, which started with a number of playing-it-safe muted solids before developing into her usual festive prints--phew. If even Tracy Reese had gone the conservative route, this would have been a sad Fashion Week indeed. This season Reese's colorful patterns became more abstract, perhaps the product of new high-tech printing processes.

A winner of a trench coat in raw silk.

This Asian-inspired open-cut tulip skirt was a continuing motif in the collection.

An abstract print.
The jury's still out on harem pants for spring, but when you see looks like these, it gives you more confidence in the trend. This outfit is both chic and infinitely wearable.

An elegant open tulip cut cocktail dress in a mustardy chartreuse for spring.


See the whole collection on Style.com.

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