Roopal Patel
senior vice president, fashion director at Saks
Favorite designers: Thom Browne, Rodarte, Cate Holstein for Khaite, Altuzarra, Jason Wu, Gabriela Hearst, LaQuan Smith, Proenza Schouler, and newcomers Luar, Willy Chavarria, Eckhaus Latta, Elena Velez, Batsheva and Ashlyn.
Key trends and items: Understated elegance with the minimalist approach to tailored separates in monochromatic, neutral tones; plays on proportion with long and lean silhouettes, a return to short, mid and long flowing skirts; sheer in everything from form-fitting gowns to catsuits and bodysuits; evening glamour in shimmery gold metallics, fringe, rich velvet, and delicate embroidered gowns; statement coats including chic toppers and luxe shearlings; Thom Browne's surreal clock bag; the super luxe shearling at Khaite and the tinsel and fringe gowns at Rodarte.
Liane Wiggins head of womenswear at Matchesfashion
Favorite designers: Ashlyn, Altuzarra, Gabriela Hearst, Khaite, LaQuan Smith, Judy Turner, Jason Wu, Carolina Herrera. Key trends and items: Understated but modern, with clean lines replacing exaggerated silhouettes; strong wardrobing with modern twists; Rohe's blazers, outerwear, shirts and dresses; Ulla Johnson's neutral macrame, black jacket, tulle skirt and shearling coat; bags from Gabriela Hearst, Ulla Johnson, Khaite and Proenza Schouler.
Surprises: The new Rorschach (named in reference to the psychological test) print at Altuzarra — a rich tapestry of color, elevated textile techniques with clever draping and tie-dye.
Marissa Galante Frank Bloomingdale’s fashion director, accessories and beauty
Favorite designers: Proenza Schouler's 20th anniversary show had many exciting saleable pieces; Khaite for strong tailoring and chic accessories; Catherine Holstein's beautiful collection created while being pregnant and planning a store.
Key trends and items: Red is the new pink; tall shaft boots, bold silver jewelry. Surprises: An unusual amount of handbags and accessories brought to the forefront.
Joseph Tang fashion director at Holt Renfrew
Favorite designers: Catherine Holstein's Khaite, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne, Another Tomorrow.
Key trends and items: Stealth sophistication seen in luxe leathers, strong tailoring and minimal '90s styling; red in buttery leathers and novelty pieces best at Gabriela Hearst; Theory's low-slung miniskirts and chic, tailored jackets; denimon-denim perfectly coined the “Canadian Tuxedo”; maxiskirt silhouettes and oversized cargo denim styles from Citizens of Humanity and R13; Thom Brown's tweed jacket; Khaite's constructed jacket.
Jodi Kahn vice president, luxury fashion at Neiman Marcus
Favorite designers: Khaite, Gabriela Hearst, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne. Key trends and items: A sense of palette
cleansing; nipped-in waists; red; shades of brown; velvet; leather; tailored coats; belts; totes; Khaite's tailored coats; Gabriela Hearst's elegant long dresses with sculptural hardware and beautiful suiting with woven leather totes; Proenza Schouler's tailored outerwear, nipped-in waist jackets, leather, rich browns, feather knits; Thom Browne's clock-adorned bags, intricate head pieces, pulled-apart suiting.
Marc Rofsky Moda Operandi’s buying director
Favorite designers: Khaite, Proenza Schouler, Brandon Maxwell, Gabriela Hearst. Key trends and items: A minimalist aesthetic seen in long, lean silhouettes at Khaite and Jonathan Simkhai; snug, sharp tailoring at Gabriela Hearst and Proenza Schouler; neutrals or graphic combinations of black and white at Carolina Herrera; metallic fabrications and details; shiny luster leather; Brandon Maxwell's leatheron-leather separates and dresses; a sense of regal opulence including ladylike full midi skirts, box and knife pleats, rich velvets, velour, peplum in tops and jackets and Western influences including belted looks, hardware, fringe, and suede. Surprises: Emotional outerwear including luxe oversized shearlings at LaQuan Smith, shibori dyed alpaca at Altuzarra. Evening coats appeared as a new must-have in satin or with restrained applications of embroidery or embellishment. Capes in various lengths and fabrications ranged from regal to practical at Carolina Herrera, Kors, and Khaite.
Beth Buccini founder and owner of Kirna Zabete
Favorite designers: Khaite, Proenza Schouler, Carolina Herrera and Alejandra Alonso Rojas.
Key trends and items: Deconstructed tailoring, hourglass blazers, organza, pleating, chocolate brown and red, lots of leather and shearling in statement outerwear.
Surprises: We are still seeing lots of feathers and sequins and fringe.
Tiffany Hsu
vice president of women’s wear and kids’ wear fashion buying at Mytheresa
Favorite designers: Rodarte, Khaite, LaQuan Smith, Puppets and Puppets,
Bad Binch TongTong and FForme.
Key trends and items: Big coats worn with big shoes, as well as slick, maxi-length silhouettes.