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It's Fashion Week in New York, so we thought we'd take a break from our usual programming to thumb through some runway slideshows and see what's in store for office wear in Spring 2011. If these few shows are any indication: prepare yourself for lots (and LOTS) of extreme neutrals: beige, white, camel, and a clammy gray, as well as, perhaps, a move away from the 1960s and 1980s. Readers — which shows, if any, have you had your eyes on? What do you think of the runway looks below?
 We're seeing high-waisted, wide pants at Adam, reminiscent of Kate Hepburn — love the pop of color with the red shoe and the sequined tank, but we could also see this look translating to the office very easily. ADAM Spring 2011 RTW |
 Love the tone-on-tone look of Carolina Herrera's collection (and all of the fabulous hats!). We particularly like this look — the volume in the sleeves plays nicely against the sleekness of the skirt, and it's a great example of mixing pattern with pattern (with pattern) and not looking clownish. CAROLINA HERRERA Spring 2011 RTW |
 We're seeing more neutrals from Donna Karan (her entire show was shades of white and beige!). We could see this look being interpreted for the office next spring — we like the swing to the jacket (and its high pockets), as well as the seaming on the skirt, and even the intentional, aggressively wrinkled look to all of it. The floral pin is a nice touch, also. Donna Karan Spring 2011 RTW |
 Prepare yourselves: The big (really big!) bow is coming back, ladies. That said, we quite like most of Jason Wu's collection — lots of sheer, floaty blouses and even (gasp!) some color and stripes. This sweater jacket looks fabulous — the contrast trim, the large pockets, the double-breasted buttons — even the length. Lovely. JASON WU Spring 2011 RTW |
 There was some interesting suiting at the Preen show — interestingly long lapels on the jacket, with a waist detail a bit reminiscent of a garter belt. We'll be watching to see if this one translates to the office… PREEN Spring 2011 RTW |
 LOVE the Jill Stuart collection, even though the silhouettes remind us a bit too closely of Kara Walker‘s work. The simple black and white look is crisp, and the little details — the slim black belt, the trim on the skirt and sleeves, and the white circles at the neckline — are all fabulous. Like the slight bit of pleating beneath the trim on the neckline, and the way the silhouettes come as high as the model's elbow. JILL STUART Spring 2011 RTW |
All photos courtesy of Elle. Full disclosure: Corporette now has an advertising relationship with Elle Network (via Style Coalition), but this post was written at the discretion of Kat Griffin alone, and all selections and opinions expressed herein are her own.
Francaise
Love the higher-waisted pants in the top picture. Low-slung is starting to look… stale.
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats
Agreed!
Lyssa
I generally still like low slung, but on that note, I’ve been watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls on Hulu lately, and I am shocked at how unflatteringly awful the low slung pants and waistband skimming tops were, even on someone with as fabulous a body as Lauren Graham (Lorelai). (This being a look that I lived in just a few short years ago.) Her hips look big (they’re not), her butt looks oddly square-shaped, and the short shirt makes her hip-hugging pants look like they’re pulled up high, even though they’re well below the belly button (as you can tell whenever she lifts her arms above shoulder hight).
This was about 2002, so it’s funny that that style already looks so bad and out of date!
S
I’m loving the two GG references in two days!
Chicago K
Me too!
Lyssa
That was what put it in my head; the Emily Gilmore referrence from yesterday! Love that show (and I always thought that Emily looked fabulous for her age, BTW!)
D
Me three!
Chicago K
I own almost identical pants from Ann Taylor – Spring 2007. I didn’t realize they went out of style, but I guess they will be back in soon!
FWIW, as they are khaki, I only wear them a few times a summer.
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats
I am so glad you did this post – I always watch fashion week and zero in on accessories and specific trends that could be translated to work at work, but like seeing certain silhouettes and outfits highlighted too :)
Ru
I was reading your blog yesterday – it’s a very interesting read. Nice job!
Ru
That black and white dress is BEYOOTIFULL! There’s something about the combination of ivoryish white and black that always makes me swoon.
Also, I need help. I bought two Fossil bags. The. Exact. Same. Bag. In two different colors, because I couldnt decide which one I like better. I want this to be an everyday bag, to be able to take to work and be appropriate in most work functions (fwiw, I’m an engineer in a business casual office). Please help decide which one I should keep.
This is the bag http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/3122247?origin=related-3122247-0-0-2 – I have it in camel and brown. The leather is really soft and beautiful. Also, the black is more dark gray, in case you were considering it for yourself.
Anon
camel.
JM
I like the camel one, too.
Shayna
Camel – it goes with black and brown without looking odd (full disclosure: I’m a long time fan of camel hair coats and camel/cognac toned bags for this exact reason)
S
I like the Camel too! More versatile.
Cat
I preferred the brown (thinking the camel looked too casual) until I realized the key/heart thing could be taken off — they stood out to me against the camel. However, without those, I’m on Team Camel all the way :)
Suze
Another Team Camel member here :). Nice bag!
Forestgirl
I like the brown, it looks so rich. But maybe I’m just getting tired of my own camel colored bag. :-)
JMW
Team Camel!
MHU
What color is your winter coat? You might pick whichever looks best with it. (Although I live in Chicago, where winter lasts from October -April, so my perspective may be scewed.)
Anonymous
Camel!
Chicago K
I really like the camel – I think it looks nicer.
Great bag by the way. I often don’t like the super trendiness of bags featured here. this one looks very classic. :)
Anonymous
You could split the baby and get the brown multi :). The camel is more on trend and will probably be more versatle, though.
Ru
You ladies are the best – thank you so much for answering. I have a charcoal gray wool coat (trying to get away from the black wool coat I had for 7 years but didn’t get too far, obviously), but I honestly don’t care if it goes with my coat or not. As an engineer, I get that choice of being uncoordinated, lol. Seriously, I’m considering purchasing a new coat as well, in some shade of blue (either navy, electric or patterned, haven’t decided), so either bag would be ok, I think.
I was leaning towards the camel myself, except that the brown is so lush and perfect. I own too many black bags and am trying to step out of my comfort zone and camel is way out there. I’ve always wanted a super-luxurious brown leather messenger bag so I guess I can keep hunting for that.
I thought about the multi but it doesn’t do justice to the awesomeness of the bag – the quality of the leather, the silhouette, how simple and non-fussy it is. I’m excited, my first “grown-up” bag! And again, THANK YOU!
JAS
I don’t look good in those kind of neutrals – I look much better in dark, warm, or jewel toned colors. Hopefully I won’t stand out too much (in a bad way at least) when I skip this trend.
fresh jd
Extreme neutral + translatable to the office + fashion week = Chloe. This review seems incomplete without it.
Also, I really liked their ad campaigns for both fall (http://bit.ly/95pKeX) and spring (http://bit.ly/8TjgHH).
D
I like neutrals in general and these in particular. I don’t generally follow fashion week stuff, so thanks for the update!
NYC Corp
Agree that Chloe has great looks this season (aspirational for me, of course).
Also, Olivier Theyskens is doing an interesting capsule collection for Theory…
L from Oz
Am hoping the neutral trend goes away fast – I look like a nineteenth century heroine dying of consumption in pale shades (if I ever get married it will certainly not be in white or cream!), and if I do wear anything light-coloured I invariably spill something on it at the first opportunity.
Oh well – good luck to those whom these sorts of outfits suit!
Parisienne
Kat – thank you for the lovely fasion show – a beautiful selection from Fashion Week’s best designers!
Amy
I love the black and white dress! Beautiful. Also love Donna Karan’s 2011 collection. So refreshing!