Pack up your sweaters because spring is here and summer is right around the corner.
The season brings a wide variety of looks, from tough leather corsets to feminine tops with delicate exterior sunflowers to hippie inspired looks of crochet and macramé#233;.
Besides colors of orange crush, pale pink and deep purple, white is also back. White laced tops and ruffled skirts create an angelic look. Perfect for day or night, Victor & Rolf’s all-white collection was presented with organ music at their spring show.
Show your animal instinct with tribal inspired looks of body hugging African prints and exotic embroidered skirts, such as safari ponchos from Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford.
Alice Roi’s off-beat show featured an Amish couture inspired theme. Long dresses with square necklines in dark colors of black and gray chiffon are playful and elegant this year, accessorized with hunting caps and heavy black sneakers. Tennis shoes seemed to be a trend among designers as well.
Ilona Rich, daughter of billionaire outlaw Marc Rich, accessorized her ribbon-trimmed corsets with white Keds. The show took place at her mother’s Fifth Avenue penthouse with Ivana Trump and Russell Simmons in attendance.
Harlem served as inspiration for Catherine Malandrino’s spring collection. Her show took place on the Apollo Theatre stage with a band and dancers fit for “Showtime at the Apollo.”
The line’s sensuality is expressed by hip-huggers and dainty blouses. This season she offered an array of dresses from the ’20s, empire-waisted gowns to slip dresses.
Nostalgic clothing was the direction this season for Ralph Lauren’s spring line. It reflected the ’70s, a time when women wore their hair parted in the middle and wore bellbottom paint-suits with classic tailored blazers.
He showed silks, ponchos with fringes and suede embroidered shawls in an array of cream and sand colors. His linen pantsuits will be a nice answer to the summer heat.
Speaking of the ’70s, late Talitha Getty, the great fashionista, served as inspiration for Chloe’s new main woman, Phoebe Philo – bringing back elegant floral prints and jeweled bags.
Asian style served as inspiration for Diane von Furstenberg’s spring line of kimono sleeve one-shoulder blouses. She brings back her popular wrap, but instead of dresses, jumpsuits are in this year.
The most amusing show of the season was Imitation of Christ’s spring collection. Designers Tara Subkoff and Matt Damhave’s witty role reversal featured models as editors sitting in the front row with their pads and pencils.
The real fashion editors were the models struggling to check out the clothing on the models/editors, while being yelled at by comedienne Tracy Ullman. Imitation of Christ doesn’t let you forget the little black dress and offers their take on the classic this season.
Boho-chic was the focus of Kenneth Cole’s spring line shown in a see-through tent at Rockefeller Plaza.
Peasant blouses, wide wrap belts, suede trench coats and huge yoga totes marked the beginning of spring’s hippie girl.
Kenneth Cole conveyed a message of gun control by leaving a gift box with a toy gun in it at the seats with a message on it that read, “There are more child safety regulations on toy guns than there are on the real thing.”
Carolina Herrera’s romantic, floaty fabrics are comfortable and stylish. She offered variations of a fanciful white blouse, with asymmetric hemmed shirts, pleats and ruffled trimming. Chic embroidery on her simple gowns replace the need for jewelry.
Donna Karan took the jacket to another level this season with a body-hugging jacket of stretch cotton. Some jackets had drawstrings accented with flowing skirts and jersey tops that made the outfit.
Her form fitting dresses and trench coats are a great addition to her line.
This season Betsey Johnson makes the bra strap a form of fashion. Her collection offers dresses from cocktail to shirred, tutus, ruched dresses and embroidered pieces, all with lacy, black lingerie peeking through. Apparently you can now wear your lingerie on the outside.
Her color palate offers bright colors like pink mixed with lime, lemon, sky blue, peach, turquoise, raspberry and lavender. Lovely silk chiffon dresses are the exception to her otherwise risqué#233; collection.
BCBG’s collection has belts, belts, and more belts.
Max Azria’s collection represented the use of belts with short skirts and jackets.
Don’t forget pinstripes, a trend among a lot of designers this season. Silk georgette dresses coordinated with leather boots or olive sandals add an edge to update the romantic look.
Many top celebrities gathered at Chelsea Piers on New York’s lower West Side to view Marc Jacob’s exquisite collection. Sarah Jessica Parker, Donald Trump, Christie Turlington and David Copperfield were all in attendance.
Marc Jacob’s offers unlimited layering options in his latest collection. This eclectic look is put to the test by light sweaters and vests on top of colored shirts.
He gives the layered look a whole new meaning with pinstripe suits, coats and jersey print dresses in ice cream colors.
Ethnic-inspired jewelry makes a great addition to any outfit. It’s a good look for women who want to be tough and chic at the same time. Safari-chic clothing like chiffon blouses and suede skirts are great for a little variety in your wardrobe.
The spring/summer 2002 collection offers earthy looks, mix-andmatch separates, intricate embroidery designs, gold lame and flower power.
– Global Fashion News contributed to this report