Thursday, February 18th

Leifsdottir
by Anna Cooperberg-Gonzalez
Leifsdottir’s Fall 2010 collection, aptly titled “The Catalonian Affair,” was a sexily fun presentation full of ruffles, velvets, tassels, and roses cheekily woven into buns. Models clicked castanets and pranced seductively in their Spanish-inspired attire heavy on lacy tights, brightly colored silk dresses, and intricately embroidered boleros. To get the look, pair black lace tights with vibrant separates, fix your hair into a low bun, and practice your flamenco.

Wednesday, February 17th

Nanette LePore
by Tiffany Chen
A vision of lush flowing velvet, LePore’s Fall Winter 2010 collection sent deep purple, and red velvet gowns and shirts, many with exposed backs for a sexy womanly feel, down the runway. The models’ lips were deep red and their hair flowed in soft dramatic curls. To balance the feminine draping, the designer paired olive military jackets with several looks—an easy look to duplicate with a knock-off military jacket from the Salvation Army. (more…)

by Allison Malecha

Flashing lights and tent-shaking music signaled a raucous start to Custo Barcelona’s Fall Winter 2010 show. Fur and metallics were the name of the Custo Barcelona fashion game. As per the Spanish brand’s usual, color and pattern were in no short supply either.

For women, multiple hues and fabrics were incorporated into nearly every look. A black mini-dress with dark fuschia fur V’s going up the front and down the back and matching fur cap sleeves was somehow uber chic. Stand-outs were a peasant-sleeved dress hung with decidedly un-peasant rows of silver and black metal bells and a crimson long fur jacket cinched with a silver belt.

For men, classic suits were given crazy twists. The first suit was swirled from head-to-toe with black, pink, and brown. A later, “subdued” one was done in small silver quilts, and the final looks featured patches of patent leather. A completely white patent leather suit with almost plastic sheen worn over a cream sweater was at the same time tacky and fabulous.

Although the wearability of most of the collection was questionable, the innovation and overall exuberance was not.

Rather than emulate specific looks in the collection, Columbia students should incorporate its overall flavor into their wardrobes. Be not afraid of wildly vibrant patterns, especially in tights, which can then be toned down with a neutral top or dress. Guys can follow similar suit, although perhaps with patterned t-shirts instead of tights. The occasional bright suit jacket or scarf couldn’t hurt campus style either.

by Allison Malecha

After a prolonged wait and final admittance to the overstuffed Bryant Park salon, Rebecca Taylor Fall Winter 2010 proved to be a cop-out of a collection. Rather than pioneer new trends for 2010, the collection merely continued trends from fall/winter 2009 – suede over-the-knee boots, grey fedoras, and a circle scarf.
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by Allison Malecha

Abigail Lorick’s Fall Winter 2010 “Anges et Cocons” themed collection, still-nescient in its third season, displayed a veteran eye for styling.

Each model in the Union Square Ballroom presentation, stationed on black stools or standing against a white backdrop, wore artfully-laid jewelry and a fantastical headpiece. Stand-outs were a veiled attaché with three little black birds at the crown and an oversized pillbox hat swathed in black taffeta.

Seemingly unaffected by the swinging 60s music and intimate atmosphere, the models looked bored as usual. An occasional cracked smile revealed the real potential of the looks, though.

The amalgamation of outfits suggested a vintage heiress inspiration, although the particular era of inspiration remained unclear. A free-wheeling emerald shift dresses with a loungey grandfather-tweed jacket was clearly 20s. A tan full-skirted dress, with a Carrie Bradshaw-esque feather-topper in black and yellow, and high-waisted Katherine Hepburn pants, modernized with a grey and black brushstroke pattern, suggested later decades. A black bra and skirt ensemble with a black transparent overlay was paired with yellow ruched gloves and plastic white bauble earrings and bracelet had a distinctly 80s feel.

Relaxed throwback glamour seems the most all-encompassing term. Even this description was violated, though, by two looks with modern punk-rock silver studs. Scattered across a black tank, which was worn over a flimsy button-up top tied in a bow at the neck missed all marks.

While the collection as a whole lacked a binding force, individual looks were worthy of emulation. Take a twist on a major trend for fall, long gloves, with mustard, burnt orange, and rich green suede. Mix modern-printed silk dresses with vintage bauble necklaces and loose-fitting vintage jackets. Pair subdued glitter tights with demure, high-cut leather heels. To really capture Lorick’s fall look, though, don a black feathered or veiled headpiece and rock it old-Hollywood style. Only recommended for the most daring, of course.