Even though crews have already de-constructed the Bryant Park tents, our New York fashion week coverage is far from over. We already banged out the coverage of the city⿿s big-guns, but there⿿s a few emerging labels that are worth your online reading time⿿and offline shopping dollars. The following names are already favorites among the fashion congnoscenti; no doubt once you see their spring collections you⿿ll become a fan too.
Ashley Verrier, Spring 2008
Why She⿿s Worth It: Though her feminine pieces have air of vintage delicacy about them, you won⿿t find any ubiquitous retro references in Verrier⿿s work. Instead she distills potent favorites of yesteryear⿿culling from the Victorian and Pleasantville eras⿿into the essence of ladylike grace.
Berardi, Spring 2008
Why He⿿s Worth It: While most ⿿90s all-stars have handed over the reigns to someone else, Antonio Berardi keeps on trucking. And clearly he isn⿿t worse for wear; his tie-dye separates were the most vibrant and youthful of those spotted on the spring runways.
Brian Reyes, Spring 2008
Why He⿿s Worth It: You don⿿t toil away in Oscar de la Renta⿿s atelier without coming away with a clear idea of what refined elegance really is. Now in his fifth season, the thoughtful de la Renta alum has sharpened his skills to a sharp, well-defined point. His construction techniques are comparable to those in an older, wiser generation, while his silhouettes suit the young and winsome.
Katy Rodriguez, Spring 2008
Why She⿿s Worth It: When the co-owner of killer vintage store Resurrection starts a clothing line, it doesn⿿t take a Cathy Horyn wanna-be to know that there⿿ll be more than a few retro notes. Blame it on the fact that she⿿s been outfitting starlets with Old Hollywood gowns for years, but Rodriguez has perfected the red-carpet-worthy party dress. And it seems her VIP client list (which include Ashlee Simpson, Claire Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Z
oe, etc) agree.
Marchesa, Spring 2008
Why They⿿re Worth It: You can expect to see a lot more of Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig’s confections on the season⿿s never-ending stretch of red-carpets. As any studious tabloid reader can tell you, wearing a dress from Harvey Weinstein⿿s girlfriend is the newest move in the Hollywood flattery dance. But even without the studio strings, there⿿s plenty of other reasons to want to seek out work from the Marchesa duo including their unrivaled (in the US at least) sense of femininity, frivolity, and fun.
Sari Gueron, Spring 2008
Why She⿿s Worth It: The anonymous dress phenomenon⿿ie luxe frocks that aren⿿t bedazzled, beribboned, or branded by stars⿿has stayed strong for the past few seasons, and Sari Gueron has been a major player in this trend. Lately she⿿s been branching out, bringing that sense of low-key elegance with her. Not only are her uptown girl skirts, nipped-waist dresses and boxy trousers timeless, they⿿re flattering too–which makes them worth the pretty penny they⿿ll cost you.
Sue Stemp, Spring 2008
Why She’s Worth It: If something is good enough for Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Ginnifer Goodwin, and more than it⿿s good enough for you and me. And if that something good comes in the form of ⿿70s disco dresses, ombre satin cocktail numbers, and sultry Indian-inspired gowns⿿like the do for spring⿿so much the better.
Trovata, Spring 2008
Why It⿿s Worth It: Though the number of designers on board keeps dwindling, Trovata⿿s sure-fire hits increase season after season. (Perhaps that⿿s partly due to John Whitledge⿿s party-style presentations. The even this season was more a rock concert than a runway show, as Jane⿿s Addiction Perry Farrell entertained the crowds.) For spring, it⿿s all⿿only might be a better word⿿about breezy little white dresses. And why not? When the mercury rises, there⿿s no better way to beat the heat.
United Bamboo, Spring 2008
Why They⿿re Worth It: Just look at Thuy Pham and Miho Aoki⿿s sheer blouses, fly-away tanks, high-waist shorts: Who, I ask you, else offers up hipster silhouettes with high-end fabrics and tailoring? Certainly not Urban Outfitters.
VPL, Spring 2008
Why She⿿s Worth It: Spring is shaping up to be the season of VPL. Sure, it takes a forgiving eye to get past the pancake hats, but once you do, there⿿s plenty of au courant pieces to be found in Victoria Bartlett⿿s latest collection. She⿿s nailed the ⿿80s boxy-shoulder silhouette, while the rest of her trademarks⿿nude hues, underpinning-inspired pieces, slightly inflated shapes⿿fit right in with the season⿿s key trends.
Photos: All Wireimage except Gueron, Marchesa, & Stemp which are GettyImages
Technorati Tags: Ashley Verrier, Antonio Berardi, Brian Reyes, Katy Rodriguez, Marchesa, Sari Gueron, Trovata, UNited Bamboo, Sue Stemp, VPL, New York Fashion Week, Runway Shows
