New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 – Day 7

ROCHAMBEAU – Day 7 of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and by late afternoon, I’d be on a flight back home. Managed to squeeze in four Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Shows, each radically different from the one before it. The first presentation of the day was by Laurence Chandler and Joshua Cooper’s Rochambeau menswear label. For Spring/Summer 2012, Rochambeau professes to be is inspired more by the attitude of the wearer than any specific reference. The clothes are designed to have the nonchalance of something owned forever and this is how the Rochambeau man carries himself. That being said, the collection looks less NYC and a lot more Paris with heavy tones of Lanvin and Dior Homme. Like the Parisian collections of late, the pieces are oversized and monochromatic – a nod to the austerity of urban life. For more photos please click here.

MICHAEL KORS – One of the most anticipated fashion shows on the Luxsure agenda had to be that of Michael Kors. Not alone on this one. The front row was dotted with heavyweight celebs including actor/producer Michael Douglas, model/actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and super-photographer Mario Testino. The Long Island native celebrated 30 years of fashion this year and since day one, he’s been successfully merging sexy and sporty together to make men and women look beautiful, seductive, and feel comfortable all at the same time. For SS12, Michael Kors offers a nomadic collection inspired by Africa – an easy laid back attitude with the rustic modernism of the Sengita Lebombo Lodge. From the caftans to the ponchos and capes the collection is relaxed yet elegant – so Michael Kors. Although I question the sanity of distressed cashmere, the linen and leather work. In a fashion week inundated with bright colour and prints, Kors offers subdued earth tones of ivory, limestone, olive, and clay set against warm sunset shades of amber, sienna, and cinnabar. Favourites of the collection include the crocodile strap messenger bags, women’s swimsuits (unreal), men’s safari shirts, chunky knit sweaters, and one killer python trench. As for the Teva-style sandals, no thanks. For more photos please click here.

NANETTE LEPORE – An engaged Stanley Tucci was no doubt blinded sitting in the front row. Neon citron, tangerine, and hibiscus lit up the tent to the sound of Sam Bisbee playing a live set. Like fluorescent pylons, the models made their way down the catwalk as Bill Cunningham’s poised head/arm combo from the front row blocked nearly everyone of my runway shots. This SS12 collection was intense and on-trend. Massive for next spring/summer is that 1980s neon and Nanette Lepore has jumped on it. Huge fan of many of these looks that can be worn as shown or mixed and matched with more subtle pieces. The girls were going crazy for the neon yellow soled footwear. For more photos please click here.

CHADO RALPH RUCCI – Well, the man got a standing ovation and that says it all. Another label celebrating 30 years in the business, Chado Ralph Rucci’s Spring/Summer 2012 Collection was luxurious, intricate, and exquisite. The Rucci studio, claimed to be the finest in the world – conceived, developed and realized each of the SS12 creations. The collection was dedicated to Mrs. Casey Ribicoff, one of the most stylish women in Washington, widowed wife of Senator Abraham A. Ribicoff, who had recently passed away. The pieces were indeed classic in their tailoring and design, but Rucci infused the collection with some of the SS12 trends including neoprene, metallics, and plastic panelling. For more photos please click here.