As New York Fashion Week wrapped up on Thursday, industry leaders are left to make sense of the upcoming designs for the spring season. Bright colors and fresh cuts seem to be the trend from the very top designer brands down to independent New York hopefuls. It feels like a statement season,” Brandon Holley, editor-in-chief of Lucky magazine told CBS News. “It feels like everyone is tired of shopping their closet, and they’re ready to make a new statement.”
New York’s Lincoln Center hosted almost 200 designers during the week, as the crowds gathered for a sneak peek at Spring 2013’s upcoming collections. Though past years were characterized by the hard-edge brought on by the recession, this year’s styles appeared more celebratory, with even the most practical designers inspired to innovate. “Retailers are happy to see newness and bright colors,” said Ken Downing, fashion director for Neiman Marcus.
Edwing D’Angelo, an independent designer who has done work for celebrities such as Tyra Banks and Vivica A. Fox, debuted his own designs, some of which are inspired by African garments and his own Colombian heritage. A fifth generation tailor, D’Angelo left law school to pursue fashion design. He now owns his own showroom and boutique in New York’s garment district.
“My clothes are for people who aren’t afraid to be the center of attention,” he told NBC Latino. “They are very well made, well-tailored, but with a sleek, urban twist.”
D’Angelo’s designs, which incorporate African features such as dashiki’s and ruffled caftans, shared the stage with the major designers like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, helping to set the curve for new statements this spring.
New York Fashion Week is considered the pinnacle of American high fashion, but the next stop on the Spring/Summer 2013 fashion tour will be in England, as London Fashion Week kicks off on Friday.
