FROM OUR SPONSOR'S COLLECTION

FROM OUR SPONSOR'S COLLECTION


PRODUCT SHOWCASE

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

SUPPLIER SHOWCASE

ON THE INSIDE WITH MARILYN KIRSCHNER

 

Presented by Child Magazine, the Fall 2006 Season Kicks Off at Bryant Park Fashion Week

As a longtime fashion editor, (I am currently editor in chief of www.lookonline.com and New York Editor of www.fashionlines.com), I have routinely covered the ready to wear and couture collections both here and abroad. Just this past February, I attended the New York Collections for Fall 2006, which take place all over town though they are centralized at the Bryant Park Tents.

It was there, smack dab in the middle of New York Fashion Week, that I (along with many others) were treated to Child's positively irresistible second annual fall children's fashion show. It was one of the week's most enjoyable and joyous events, putting a smile on even the most cranky, weary and jaded of fashionista's faces. Child, published by the Meredith Corporation has been committed to the idea of "Raising Kids with Smarts & Style" for the last 20 years. And because fashion is such a large part and parcel of life (and not only for the grownup set), they have consistently been in the forefront of children's fashion and have begun to sponsor high profile children's fashion shows in conjunction with New York Fashion Week.

Not only was the show well attended, it was quite a fashionable family affair. I was sitting across the aisle from Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons (whose adorable daughters, Ming Lee and Aokie Lee modeled the first two outfits out - matching Baby Phat Girlz pink tweed capes). Also in the front row were Lindsay Lohan, (whose little sisters - Dakota and Aliana Lohan - also modeled); Cynthia Rowley, with hubby Bill Powers, and baby daughter in tow; Marie Claire Editor at Large and fashion designer Lucy Sykes Rellie, with husband Euan and their young son; supermodel and entrepreneur Frederique van der Wal with her young daughter; new mom and fashion editor and commentator, Mary Alice Stephenson with babe in tow.

From Baby Phat Girlz

Included in the 61 outfits for boys and girls, (representing 45 top brands that could easily be considered the crème de la crème of children's fashion, footwear, and accessories), were such labels as Jottum, Baby Phat Girlz, I Pinco Pallino, Marie Chantal, Oilily, Sean Jean, Sonia Rykiel, Lucy Sykes, Rocawear, Baby CZ, Cynthia Rowley, Catherine Malandrino, and Tory Burch.

The runway show was perfectly accessorized (shoes were provided by Primigi, Sperry, Stride Rite; hosiery was from Tic Tac Toe) and the clothing was grouped into 5 separate themes: 'Grey Matter', 'Confetti Bright', 'Earth Tones', 'Green with Envy', 'Black & White - Day or Night'. From my perspective, what was most interesting was the way in which the proposed styles for kids (down to the faux furs, ballet flats, and fabulous boots) seemed to mirror what was being proposed for the adults, again - not surprising since this is a growing trend and has been for quite some time. In fact, the only group within the Child runway show that could not also be considered as a major trend throughout the women's wear collections, was 'confetti bright' - though strong color was not totally absent (almost every designer had something in red, either a coat or more specifically, an evening dress) and was therefore all the more welcome when it flashed on the runway.

From Cakewalk

The women's runways for Fall 2006 were notable for a decidedly classic, muted and very fall like color story, (all shades of brown, rust, taupe, camel, a range of greens - including moss and olive, and gray). Black is back in a big way and where there's black there's bound to be its polar opposite - white. The combination of black and white is always a perennial favorite. Menswear was a major influence (as seen in all the traditional menswear fabrics - tweed, plaid, glen plaid, herringbone, and houndstooth). The season is all about an emphasis on cut, construction, shape, and proportion rather than extraneous embellishments.

Knitwear - especially chunky hand knit sweaters, vests, scarves, hats, and gloves, were standouts; pants were proposed in every shape and proportion (including shorts), and naturally, there were great coats of all kinds, including capes. There were frequent suggestions of military, athletic touches, denim, and also lots of streetwise edgy urban layering. Furs (sorry PETA), especially sporty fur sweaters, vests, hats, AND lavish fur trims, were seen throughout, as were shearlings. And while there may not have been many floral prints and patterns (if any), there were fabric corsages and rosettes, and fabric was manipulated into flower-like petals. Boots in every imaginable height and style, knitted leggings and legwarmers, and opaque tights (especially black though there were hits of color and pattern on some runways) made the leg the focal point and grounded everything - infusing a practical and functional vibe.

So, keeping my fashion editor's point of view in mind, these are the outfits that stood out in the Child runway show: Simonetta's grey tiered skirt ensemble with purple polka dot tie and purple polka dot sweater with grey flannel shorts; Jottum's red and pink tiered silk ruffle dress worn beneath a red velvet overcoat; Zutano's colorful windowpane shirt, striped scarf, and orange corduroy pants accessorized with a duo of colorful top hats; Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's orange A-line dress with multi colored rosette shrug; Lucy Sykes' floral shirtdress paired with a faux-fur lined vest, and Sherpa lined jacket worn over cable zip front sweater vest paired with brown striped pants; I Pinco Pallino 1950's olive green military style coats and vests; Kule's black and white striped nautical sweater and scarf worn with full black velvet petty-coated skirt; Tocca's black and white embroidered coat with beaded collar and pockets worn over matching dress.

From Simonetta

From Jottum

From Zutano

From Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

From Lucy Sykes

From Kule

From Tocca

Just a note: the show was not just eye candy - it was for a good cause. Immediately following, in partnership with the charity Free Arts NYC (which hopes to bring "the healing powers of the arts into the lives of at risk children and their families"), Child co-hosted a live auction on their website (www.child.com) via Ebay, where a group of select runway looks were auctioned off to the highest bidder (with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Free Arts NYC).

 

 

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