Fashion Week is always filled with fabulous shows and wonderful surprises; you never know what to expect! What I find interesting is the fact that some of the most anticipated shows of the season are often a letdown in comparison to designers that aren’t as well known. Don’t get me wrong, I think all shows are fabulous and enjoy attending them, however, I was pleasantly surprised by three designers in particular this past NYFW; Reem Acra, Vicky Zhang and John Paul Ataker.
Reem Acra
Let’s start with Reem Acra– what an amazing show! Her Spring 2017 Ready-To-Wear collection heavily focuses on eveningwear while incorporating an 80’s style theme. If you know about Reem Acra, you most likely think about her stunning and luxurious bridal and romantic gowns. Her regal designs are interlaced with a modern aesthetic, which makes every single one of her collections unique. I love the fact that Reem Acra changed things up a bit for her Spring 2017 collection by including ruffles, asymmetrical cuts as well as separates! The flower-print designs were a huge standout as well as her bold decision to play with shorter lengths. In my opinion, the number one design is the beautiful floral embroidered blush organza gown. Mark my words…we will definitely be seeing this gorgeous gown on the red carpet this season!
Vicky Zhang
The one and only Vicky Zhang presented another fabulous show. Besides loving her incredible designs, I also loved the entire concept of her Spring 2017 collection. As the show began, I was surprised and excited to see young children walking down the runway. Vicky’s young daughter, whom always wanted to wear clothing similar to those worn by her mom, heavily inspired the Spring 2017 Collection. Vicky turned this idea into an entire fashion concept and decided to create a parent-child collection that suits the entire family. The talented designer was able to create a children’s collection that was sophisticated yet whimsical.
The runway was flooded by designs made from elegant fabric and calming color palettes that suited both children and adults. Vicky Zhang also incorporated the most perfect accessories in order to complete the looks such as large bows and metal pieces that were absolute showstoppers. My favorite design was the golden gown that greatly resembled the dress worn by Belle in Beauty and the Beast. This gown is the epitome of luxury! The fabric, color and shape of this dress was stunning and by far the biggest hit among the crowd.
John Paul Ataker
Last but certainly not least, John Paul Ataker…this is definitely one of those runway shows that left me wanting more! I can honestly say that every single design presented at this runway show was captivating and unique. The collection incorporated this season’s top trends such as asymmetrical lines, contrast piping, ruffle details and of course, side cut-outs. John Paul Ataker pays such close attention to detail that he is successfully able to combine classic styles with elegant trends. The mix of modern prints and elegant floral appliques were designed to enhance the feminine silhouette therefore making this collection extremely chic and ideal for spring. I was most impressed by the final look; a stunning white dress with ruffles that draped beautifully as the model walked down the runway. As the model continued to walk, she lifted her arms, which made the dress resemble the wings of an angel. This look by far received the biggest reaction from the NYFW audience (myself included).
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Photo credit: Andrew Werner
