First Coast Register August/September 2015 | Page 32

EMBRACING DIVERSITY:
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by KELLY H. MCDERMOTT

Around this time every year, I begin
to scour the archives of high-fashion
magazines, poring over the fall looks
that designers from around the world
sent to New York Fashion Week.
My hope in doing this—as unlikely
as it may seem—is that I’ll be able
to distill what I find on the runways
down into a few practical trends that
I can share with the readers of the
First Coast Register.
Most years, I am at least passably
successful.
In 2012, I told you to keep an eye
on the color dubbed “oxblood”—a
rich burgundy. Lo and behold,
Pantone announced “masala”—a rich
burgundy—as its Color of the Year for
2015.
Oxblood, masala. Po-tay-to, po-tahto. I’d say I nailed it.
Unfortunately, I also told you to
avoid neons that year. The neon trend
did not die, despite my condemnation,
and still marches strong through
plenty of collections.
In 2013, I assured you that your
fashion bucks would be well invested
in hats, chunky knits and clutches.
Whether or not you love those trends,
you can’t deny that fashion retailers
are pushing these items more than ever
before.
And last year, I insisted that shearling,
fur and vintage-inspired bohemian
elements would continue to be staples of fall
fashion. Like it or not, those trends are here
to stay.
So as I sat down to peruse the offerings from
New York Fashion Week this year, I was already
patting myself on the back for being great at
predicting fall trends.
Fast forward to a few hours later as I looked at
my notes in dismay. Phrases like “sparkly bling, big
earrings!” “flounce hemlines,” and “big black boots
with literally everything” make an appearance next
to phrases that I can’t decide are statements or
questions: “turtleneck dickies?” and “red plaid again?”
Maybe it’s simply that I’ve been paying attention
to so-called high-end fashion long enough to see it
circle around and cannibalize old trends, presenting
them as if they’re brand new. Or maybe I’ve become
mentally unfashionable enough to not understand
32 August - September 2015 | First Coast Register

the appeal of the new collections. But identifying a
through line in this year’s fall fashion collections is no
small task.
Some designers moved backwards by decades,
choosing to put out unlikely long-haired furry boots
and “car wash” pleat skirt silhouettes (with wide
ribbons of fabric or unattached pleats). Some designers
moved back centuries with Victorian details like lace
and high-necked shirts. (Please, hold your jokes about
Seinfeld puffy shirts.) Others circled back by just a
few years, plastering everything in rhinestones that
harkens back to the recent heyday of “