A Recap of A/W 2014 Fashion Month

  Fashion month is a significant event for the fashion industry. Starting on February 1st, fashion enthusiast from all over the world meet in New York, London, Paris, and Milan to watch models strut their stuff down the most prominent runways.

During fashion month, designers show off their newest collections and decide the biggest trends for the upcoming season. This year, designers delved into themes such as the swinging 60’s, sportswear chic, and global traveler. Valentino, Chanel, and Burberry had superior collections that brought these themes to life on the runway.

  The 1960’s is making a groovy reappearance, rearing its youthful spirit on miniskirts, knee high boots, and short dresses. Valentino had the audience in awe.  Models took the stage in 60’s mod prints, wide legged trousers, and bright red go-go boots that had the older audience members wiping away nostalgic tears. “Designers like Valentino are exactly what the world needs right now,” said Katie Fagan, senior fashion design student at the University of Texas, “Clothes can be fun and funky, and the 60’s style is all about letting go and having fun.” The funky patterns and bright colors prove that fashion can be fun.

  Sportswear was also extensively seen on the runway. Think soccer mom meets Anna Wintour. The mash-up of athletic wear and high fashion has hard working women everywhere drooling. Karl Lagerfeld’s “Chanel Shopping Center” show included a Supermarket set, taking a mundane errand and making it into a fashion statement. Tweed tops, amped-up sweat sets, and trainers took the everyday soccer mom attire to a new level. “It’s beautiful really,” said Hana Lang, a Los Angeles based fashion designer, “Women are becoming so powerful in today’s society. Major fashion designers are creating clothes based on the working women. It’s getting to the point where woman are dressing for themselves instead of dressing to impress men.”

   Besides frequently taking trips to the disco and the grocery store, women tend to suffer from wanderlust. Wanderlust is a strong, innate desire to travel about. This is where the global traveler theme came from. Signified by layers, fur, far-off patters and earth tones, this look defines the gypsies and the free spirits. No one showed it clearer than Christopher Bailey at Burberry. A study in layering (or packing for a worldly adventure), he piled shearlings, blanket capes, scarves and ponchos over artisanal floral-print dresses and coats. The accessories were essential too: ethnic-inspired booties to covet and the hand-painted Bloomsbury totes that were to die for. 

    This year’s fashion month was about empowering women. These themes prove that you can work hard, have fun, and look fabulous while doing so. This is the age of the powerful women, dress like you own the world.