In Spades

Style... in abundance

NYFW S/S18 Day 2

Early mornings during NYFW are especially tough, so when my alarm went off at 7am I was pretty much a zombie. Thank goodness for eye masks!

With my Day 2 OOTD, into a taxi I went. Destination: the World Trade Center. In the lobby I caught up with my blogger friend Nicole and together we ascended to the 71st floor for the Club Monaco presentation.

Shop the Post

Club Monaco
I’ve been lucky to attend all of Club Monaco’s shows since their inception at NYFW. First it was their debut in Grand Central and then a scene out of Alice’s Tea Party in their 5th Avenue flagship with Grace Coddington, Nick Wooster and Drew Barrymore in attendance.

Photos courtesy of Club Monaco

What makes Club Monaco unique is that they present a see-now, buy-now collection so everything is immediately available for purchase.  In a week where what you’re seeing won’t be available for another six months, it was wonderful to be inspired by pieces that I can actually get my hands on now. Standouts were their leopard print duster, tweed coat with oxblood fur sleeves and their take on the new power suit – florals from head to toe. You can shop the entire collection below!
Shop Club Monaco

The first thing that popped into my head when I stepped off the elevator at World Trade? Coffee!

Concept Korea
Highly caffeinated and fed, Concept Korea was next. Featuring the country’s freshest talent shown in back-to-back runways, S/S18 opened with LIE by Lee Chung Chung, followed by Greedilous. Remember her insane collection from February?

Korean fashion is completely unapologetic. It pushes the envelope of texture, color and silhouette in ways most designers take years to perfect. There are underlying concepts infused into garments making them not just clothes, but movements. I can’t get enough.

Take LIE Collection. 69-year-old Maye Musk (Elon’s mother) opened the show in a see-through raincoat and tee emblazoned with the word “Imperfect”. Accessories and beauty followed suit with scripted eyeliner spelling out “Imperfectly Perfect” on upper lids and leather slides while lipstick was only applied on the bottom lip. How can you not love this IDGAF attitude?

I was thrilled to see shoe designer Yuul Yie collaborate on the footwear. As an owner of their mules, I found several other pairs to add to my collection!

Greedilous was inspired by the movie Avatar and created botanical prints on causal separates and dresses alike. Ruffles played an important note for spring – they’re not going anywhere! Featuring menswear and womenswear, Maye Musk closed the show in a floor length multi-tiered ruffled set.

LIE Collection
Greedilous

Although I’ve been attending NYFW for years, it’s always a thrill to have a fashion week “first”. Bibhu Mohapatra was a first for me this season and he didn’t disappoint.

Bibhu Mohapatra
If you’re unfamiliar with Bibhu, he creates intricately detailed garments that turn heads. These are not your average “I’ll-wear-this-to-brunch” looks. Bibhu is for special occasions. Tapping into an adventurous spirit, his S/S18 woman was a fearless explorer. Craving knowledge, culture and new-to-the-eye details, the collection featured sweet gestures of tulle and lace toughed up with harnessed bodices and corseted waistlines. A master of combining edgy and feminine, his show stopping gowns showcased hand beaded appliques and feathers. A note for spring – more is more.

Michael Costello
The show stopping drama didn’t end at Bibhu. Michael Costello held a presentation comprised of RTW and bridal at the Robert Miller Gallery. Last season Michael tapped into his inner badass with Rock N’ Roll vibes and an unforgiving je ne sais quoi. For spring 2018, he accessed a softer femininity. Think secret gardens overflowing with heady roses that intoxicate the senses to a point where you practically float away.

While all runways are fairytales to me, Michael’s presentation was the literal embodiment of elegance and grace. It didn’t matter if you were already married. There wasn’t a woman (or man) in the room who didn’t want to put on a wedding dress right then and there. If you like drama, you love Michael.

Photos courtesy of Michael Costello

Saks Fifth Avenue
Alas, I got my details correct! The Saks Fifth Avenue party was everything I hoped it would be and more. Killer live band, amazing 360 degree photobooth, appetizers and free flowing champagne. They recreated the shopping experience in which dreams are made.

I’ve often said I could live inside a Saks and this evening only solidified my views. Imagine chatting with friends among straight off the runway shearling Alexander McQueen coats. And jewel encrusted Judith Leiber bags. And don’t forget a collection of Balenciaga more abundant than the actual Balenciaga store in Soho. I was so high on fashion my head was literally spinning. My next goal? To actually be one of the women invited to the party simply because they actually spend that much money in Saks every year. Ah how I wish I were a Russian billionaire.

The hubby and I moved through the party with blogger friends Lauren and Jacqueline before deciding we were starving and it was time for yet another late night NYFW dinner.

Until tomorrow friends!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia

NYFW F/W17 Day 2

On Day 2 of NYFW the snow let up, but we were left with slushy, salty sidewalks. In other words, it was not a good day to wear your best shoes!

I opted for silver brogues and a Jacquemus coat that I’d been saving specifically for NYFW. Jacquemus is a young, French designer I’ve been obsessed with since he first came on the scene a couple of seasons ago. Known for creating structural pieces and pushing the boundaries of size and silhouette, I’ve had to hold myself back from buying up his entire collection. It’s the perfect blend of off-kilter whimsy that tugs at my little sartorial heart. Paired with my throwback Anya Hindmarch Space Invaders bag and Pac Man ghost tassel, it was a win-win for comfort and street style bait.

Oday Shakar
Our first show was Oday Shakar’s F/W17 collection entitled “Transcend”. The show opened with a series of black, hand-beaded evening looks before transitioning to deep reds, blues, greens and then finally emerging in soft winter whites. It was a literal and symbolic representation of surviving through the darkness and emerging in light. My favorite looks were a shimmering twisted seam coat with matching flare leg pants, and his brilliant flowing silhouettes – seen in a ruby cape with satin slip dress, and midnight caftan with ring details.

Lanyu
Chinese luxury designer Lanyu opened with crocheted bathing suits underneath wool coats in a range of mint, sky blue and pink.  The collection felt very spring-like until the mid-point when lace dresses, oversized blazers and tweed wrap dresses in jade and burnt orange made an appearance.

Photo by Bay Area Fashionista

Hakan Akkaya
The first thing that came to mind when I saw Hakan Akkaya’s collection was The Matrix. His all black line-up of menswear and womenswear had an edgy and futuristic vibe that featured metallic details, zippered seams and ruffled embellishments. Accessorized with leather baseball caps, oversized briefcases and garment bags, his collection felt young and on the verge.

Concept Korea
One of my favorite shows each season, Concept Korea takes three of the country’s best designers and brings them to NYFW to show as one concept. Fall/Winter 2017 featured designers Greedilous, Kimmy J and Yohanix. If there’s one thing Korean’s know about fashion, it’s how to push the envelope with multiple colors and patterns. Each designer featured a rainbow palette in a myriad of fabrics and prints. I was blown away with how cohesive and polished each collection was despite a dizzying amount of details. Take for example, this stunning burgundy, black and white fur coat layered over a netted skirt with hand-embroidered details and grounded in a silk army green trench coat. Brilliant!

RtA
Contemporary line RtA (road to awe) is best known for their denim and showed a great presentation of oversized fur jackets, leather separates and high quality knitwear in addition to their bread and butter. I love this oxblood leather dress accessorized with a pinstriped boyfriend blazer.

Photo by Bay Area Fashionista

Chromat
Each season Chromat pushes the envelope in the realm of swimwear.  The show opened with a musical performance (complete with back-up dancers!) before models of all shapes and sizes strutted down the runway in bold red, green and blue (noticing a theme?) two-pieces.  Many looks were accessorized with inflatable puffer jackets meant to be worn poolside and all featured long, gold chains hanging out of the models’ mouths.  My seat mate was an adorable Chihuahua mix puppy, whose owner was a well known journalist and long-time friend of the brand.  After listening to his many stories about working with the Chromat team, it became even clearer how tight knit of a community this dynamic brand represents.

Backstage with Bumble & Bumble
Next up was a backstage visit at Club Monaco with Bumble & Bumble.  Artistic Director Laurent Philippon – pictured below – walked me through his vision for the day.  Stay tuned for a full look into Club Monaco’s backstage coverage next week!

Club Monaco
Our last show of NYFW Day 2 set quite the bar.  After being treated to an in-depth behind the scenes look backstage, we walked into the show space, which was held at Club Monaco’s flagship on 5th Avenue.  The entire store had been transformed into an indoor garden of lilac, lavender and rose.  It smelled as heavenly as it looked – I truly felt transported into a secret garden.  In the middle of the room was a gigantic table adorned with silver place settings, trays and goblets filled to the brim with sweet and savory treats.  A build-your-own-bouquet bar was located off to the side, as models walked the length of the store and then positioned themselves on stage for us to take a closer look at the clothes.

Drew Barrymore, Jeremy Piven, Blair Eadie, Nick Wooster and the infallible Grace Coddington were in attendance.  I absolutely followed Grace Coddington like a total creeper so I could snap a picture of greatness in the flesh.

February 2017 marked the second time Club Monaco showed at NYFW.  We were lucky to attend their first ever presentation in September, so seeing it’s follow-up was quite a treat.  Club Monaco followed the see-now, buy-now model, showing Spring/Summer 2017 clothing available for immediate purchase.  I loved their take on vibrant florals, ruffled sleeves and a reinterpretation of the classic trench.  You can shop the collection here.

Photos by Matthew Passiglia