While we started our initial Spring 2014 New York Fashion Week with the challenging crop top trend we’ve seen pop up on almost every runway, we thought we’d follow-up with some of the bona fide age-appropriate, and beautifully designed collections also creating abuzz.
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From Derek Lam’s crisp collection of pragmatic American sportswear to The Row’s heady mix of worldly influences to Jil Sander Navy’s pure lines, there’s plenty for the over 30 set to take note of. And by that we mean stellar collections for the grown-up woman that have a modern lightness to them and help you justify that next purchase.
>>MORE: Advice on Dressy Age-Appropriate & Seasonless Style
Take Jil Sander Navy’s blue techno polo dress above with its simple vented shape, sure it can work on a twenty something as styled, but imagine it with simple flats for year-round wear. Now that’s the kind of effortless wearability you should always be on the hunt for.
What made the outing’s abbreviated proportions age-proof were the cool pastel hues punctuated by rich blues and the unexpected pleat and vent details that only a woman with a studied sense of dress might appreciate.
>>DISCOVER: Spring 2014 Style Tips & Advice to Try Now
And for those on the lookout for heirloom quality pieces with more personality but nevertheless functional, The Row’s striking blend of Edwardian and ethnic references could set you apart without aging you. It was one of those collections that anyone of any age can wear, with vintage appeal that will keep you in step through the seasons.
Eccentric you say, maybe but not quite so. For starters, a color palette of lush ivory, rust and black made every look verge on the classic, while proportions were proper and silhouettes were elegantly relaxed. Want a quirky ethnic piece to remind you of your travels? Take a cue from The Row and opt for something sublimely chic yet detailed and you’ll never cross that over-the-top, too artsy divide we so often see.
“How do I make classic ideas, the white shirt, a spring wrap coat, a sheath dress with unexpected twists that bring an attitude of relaxed chic, that was my imperative. I love a woman who expresses her style quietly, yet with a definitive expression. Joy is a wonderful fresh attitude I hope to comes thru the collection”- Derek Lam
That’s the mantra that made Lam’s Spring 2014 collection such an energetic rush to see. From belted separates to column dresses in the simplest of cuts, there was something smart to wear at the office, at cocktail hour and even to a festive event, and all of it looked fresh via new techniques and silhouettes that felt of the moment. Think classics with a techno edge that might not speak about cool, but rather focus on the kind spontaneous style that’ll get everyone’s attention.
Do you think it’s about time that you can see something on the runway that you can actaully wear, as is? Tell me in the comments below.
Photos: via designers