DKNY FW16

After Donna Karan stepped down from her eponymous diffusion line DKNY, the fashion world was introduced to a new designing duo- Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osbourne (ex-designers for Public School). For their September debut at the house, they delivered a collection - of course - solely inspired by New York. However, they seemed to avoid the free-spirited eclectic nature of the city’s youth and approached from a different angle, a more corporate slant. The collection was full of modernity, minimalism and sophistication: sartorialized suits, crisp white shirts and over-sized proportions. There is no doubt that they had e-commerce in their minds when creating that collection.

Their second collection, on the other hand, was a tribute to New York’s streetwear culture. 90s’ motifs fluctuated throughout the collection, combined with Japanese cuts and silhouettes. I love how they are revitalizing the house by deconstructing all the wardrobe basics and re-working them into more wearable hybrids of the versions before. Take the DKNY signature, the pinstripe suit, for example. They totally lacerated it, creating a cropped blazer with baggy trousers being held up by giant buckled suspenders.
  

 

Tomboy is a word I would associate with this collection. We had chunky combat boots, the masculinized proportions of a re-shaped shirt dress with asymmetrical lines and a pair of striped tracksuit dungarees held up with huge plastic clips; what more could you wish for?

 

Re-worked shirt dress

90-esque sartorially striped dungarees

I took a particular liking to the velvet blazer which sat loosely above a high-neck lace bodice and also the white shirts with laser-cut details were just sumptuous.  

 

For the finale we were presented to a vast array of neoprene sweatshirts emblazoned with fresh new anagrams of ‘DKNY’ like ‘Designers know nothing yet’ and ‘Don’t knock New York’, definitely a clever way to show us that their legacy has just begun.

Evidently, being their second collection, Chow and Osbourne are still figuring out who their DKNY girl is – however, I think they are certainly heading on the right road for success!
  

 Please Note: I do not own any of these images, courtesy of Vogue.co.uk and theimpression.com
 

College Street Style Part 3

Firstly, apologies about how late this instalment is. It is fashion week, therefore reviews are taking presidency at the moment. Secondly, I'm trying to spread the series out for as long as possible, hence the amount of people I haven't done yet. My apologies. Rest assured all will get done in due course!

Emily

When I think of Emily's style, I think Studio 54. Mixing old school glitz and glamour with a modern edge. Take this equation; a vintage fur + a velveteen top = effortless luxury. 

Here, we see Emily wearing a vintage sheepskin coat over a gypsy'esque embroidered top- this is Vogue, defined.  The ripped jeans mitigate the look ever so slightly, pushing it into the 'smart-casual' category. It is incredibly difficult to pull off smart casual. However, only a select handful of people can accomplish the look to the level of perfection, Emily is a great example of one of those people. Dressing like this is a talent, and you all know it!

                       

   

Describe your style in 3 words...

Vintage, Parisian and eclectic

Do you have a style inspiration?

I guess I take inspiration a lot of different people, but the only thing they have in common is their  individuality, for example I am hugely inspired by Marilyn Manson (although I don't dress like him!) and Vivienne Westwood because I think originality and expression is what inspires me about fashion, that is what I think its for.

Favourite place/s to shop:

I love charity shops and second-hand shop, but if we are talking more high-street then All Saints and Urban Outfitters.

                      

                        

Emily wears:

Vintage sheepskin coat

Boots- New Look

Jeans- Boohoo.com

Top- French Connection

Ruby

Ah now Ruby. This girl is effortlessly stunning, you can tell that her eternal style has already been bestowed in her. There is never a day when Ruby looks badly dressed, in fact she could probably wear the new Margiela or Comme Des Garçons and pull it off with so much ease. 

I would say Ruby has the classic style. When I say classic; I mean putting your own twist onto wardrobe staples. For example an overcoat; now would you invest in a MaxMara Teddy Bear Coat? Or perhaps just a well-tailored black overcoat? The epitome of chic. It is not about the pieces themselves, it's also about the person who wears them. As Marc Jacobs once said 'clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them', personality is key for timeless style, and in Ruby's case, with her bubbly personality she is able to achieve a high-order classic style. I applaude her!

                       

  

Describe your style in 3 words...

Simple, casual but sophisticated

Do you have a style inspiration?

I don't really have one but I do love Vanessa Hudgens' style!

Favourite place/s to shop:

Topshop, River Island and Urban Outfitters

                       

Ruby wears:

Top- Topshop

Jeans- River Island

Boots- Topshop

Becca

Edgy, eclectic and fun- 3 words to describe Becca's style, rolled up into one. This girl's got style, there is no denying about that. This very outfit pictured was the outfit that made me want to worship her manner of dressing. Let me break it down for you; firstly a last season Topshop jumper. I can tell you something- I want that jumper, and that's saying something! Secondly, the combination of the boyfriend jeans and that jumper; it's effortless edge with a hint of the je ne sais quoi factor. Adding the shoes in, perfects this outfit. It's laid-back, in the moment and full of charisma. Love it!

                      

Describe your style in 3 words...

Casual, current and eclectic

Do you have a style inspiration?

I'm afraid I don't.. I literally just see something I like and looks good and I wear it... I mean I look around at what people are wearing at the moment but I'd much rather I wore something I was confident and comfortable in than dressing how everyone else does just to fit in.

Favourite place/s to shop:

Topshop by far, Urban Outfitters for the basics and I have always been a New Look fan.

 

Becca wears:

Jumper- Topshop

Jeans- New Look

Shoes- Vans

               Credit to Immy Done and Stella Botes for the photography