From Sept. 4 to 11, New York City hosted the fall iteration of its world-renowned fashion week. Designers used the opportunity to showcase their Spring 2015 collections. The event featured many well-known brands—such as acclaimed designers Calvin Klein and Michael Kors—as well as niche names like Pyer Moss and Nicole Miller.
This week, two contributors demonstrate different ways to translate runway-wear to accessible campus styles. From incorporating new colours to revisiting past trends, these fashion tips will allow McGill students to bring the flair of New York’s Fashion Week to the chilly autumn streets of Montreal.
NEW AGE CAPRIS
Capris have evolved over the years to take a wide variety of shapes and forms. During New York Fashion Week (NYFW), the capris that stood out were boxy and loose-fitting. Some of the featured pieces fit snug around the hips, but stayed straight through the leg. The Row paired its sleek capris with tops that cut higher on the torso, revealing a modest slash of skin. Nanette Lepore and Phillip Lim chose to go with a more shapeless style. Sporting a loose capri pant with a baggy top is a comfortable way to look sophisticated. Capris are also an indispensable option for class, as they match well with flats—from oxfords to Converses—so you can safely run from one end of campus to the other.
MIDNIGHT BLUE
Midnight blue was a recurring colour over Men’s Fashion Week, showing up in Patrik Ervell and Todd Snyder’s Spring 2015 collections. Fashion week trends are usually quite adventurous, but this colour is easily transitioned to everyday styling. Neutral colours can be changed up by trying midnight blue tones. This trend is perfect if your style consists of mostly monotone pieces. If you are still hesitant about wearing colour, try incorporating midnight blue in small details such as the collars of polo shirts, in colour-blocked shirts, or as a pocket accent. To create an even more interesting look, play with fabrics and textures such as the increasingly popular velvet.
FARM COOL
While the image that comes to mind when thinking of farm clothes might be of lopsided straw hats and tattered overalls, the farm-wear’s reboot at NYFW is quite the opposite of that. MM6 Maison Martin Margiela and Calvin Klein both played with patchwork. In a city like Montreal with plenty of great thrifting opportunities, you could try adding patches to your clothes or backpack. A suede vest combined with a crisp button up is a clean look with farm flair. Combine boyfriend jeans that sit low on your hips with a DIY tube-top made with a square scarf in a tapestry print, and you will have a great outfit to attend one of the many concerts in the city.
BOATNECK
The boatneck—a wider neckline that extends out to the shoulders—stood out in N. Hoolywood’s Spring 2015 Collection. This is a unique cut to style but you can definitely choose how far you want to go with it. Boatneck shirts can range from subtle to very prominent, so pick one that you’re comfortable with. This style is perfect for playing up collarbones or drawing attention to toned shoulders. To obtain a more casual look, try finding a boatneck t-shirt with button up detailing; however, if you’re styling a more formal ensemble, a collared shirt complements the boatneck well.
H to T BLACK
One of the most attractive looks for men from this season is head-to-toe black. Donatella’s Versus Versace shows featured examples of how to use different textures to create interest in such a monochrome outfit. To translate some key looks from the runway to everyday campus wear, do not hesitate to mix a leather jacket with a starched shirt, and try different knits with your favourite black jeans.
SHEER
Sheer shirts have faded in and out of fashion, but have made a comeback in a number of Spring 2015 collections. The sheer trend was a favourite for designer Ohne Titel, who created interesting and edgy looks by playing with sheer textures and geometric paneling; some designers went as far as creating fully translucent tops. It’s easy to translate this runway trend into everyday campus wear. Picking a boxier top with a geometric sheer panel highlighting the waist is a great way to stay modest with the silhouette, yet still reward your figure. If you’re feeling adventurous, go ahead and style a full-on sheer shirt. This is the perfect time to show off a unique bralette; they can even be paired with high-waisted bottoms to maintain a sleek shape.
SHORTS X LEGGINGS
One of the key looks featured at NYFW was Pyer Moss’s combination of shorts over leggings. Many athletes who practice outdoors during the winter are already familiar with this pairing, but it appears as though this style has become an important trend in fashion as well. Both full-length leggings or calf-length leggings are options. This combo can be easily matched with any style for the top, from a more formal button up under a crew neck sweater to a turtleneck shirt. Nearly any type of shoe will look fitting with this casual get-up as well.
MIDI SKIRT HEMS
The prominence of midi skirts is on the rise, and can be styled in surprisingly modern ways—as seen in the Spring 2015 collections of designers such as Nicole Miller and Michael Kors. The longer length of the midi skirt leaves room for more experimentation with the top. Midi skirts without too much detailing can seem plain, so try pairing them with more interesting necklines and bold graphics. If you’re looking to spice up the skirt, crochet detailing and sheer panels are a seasonal trend and add texture. If the A-line midi skirt doesn’t work for your style, you can modernize this trend by streamlining it. Try a midi pencil skirt to create a more form-fitting silhouette. This is perfect for balancing out boxier and oversized tops if you want to style this skirt for more formal environments.
