Famed choreographer George Balanchine’s practical wisdom “there are no new steps, only new combinations” rang true at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York this February where reconfigured sportswear shapes made of lush, romantic remixed fabrics dominated.
Alexander Wang created a cozy comfort zone; his ubiquitous puffer coats as capes were paired with light silky dresses. Using exotic fabrics like fur needle-punched into a woolen surface Wang elevated a parka-poncho hybrid beyond functional rainwear. Jason Wu likewise flaunted a sportswear combo of a hooded woollen parka jacket paired with a prim satin collared button-up shirt and slim line pants.
Preen’s Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi combined fabrics with elaborate adornment. Multicolored geometric-floral print wrap skirts were paired with hand-embroidered, block-printed collarless silk shirts and intarsia sweaters evoking the Northern California Arts and Crafts movement.
Meanwhile Suno duo Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty’s thatched silkscreen prints paired English tea dresses, Peruvian knits, woollen throws and ‘70s sequinned tops highlighted the eclecticism dominating the 2011 autumn season.
