We’ve Been Good

Miranda Priestly sniffs at florals in spring, but how would she feel about florals in autumn? It’s almost revolutionary, to present plant life in its full bloom as the rest of the trees prepare to sleep for the winter.

Ralph Lauren’s and Marc Jacobs’s florals say bold, realistic, and somber — think mournful-looking orchids on black backgrounds. But Kate Spade’s florals were almost a silhouette, standing out only slightly in a darker tone from its ashy background. Michael Kors, meanwhile, showed florals in the same ashy tone.

Animal Prints

Zebra and leopard: always a hit.

The prints in Elie Tahari and Kate Spade’s shows were almost only a suggestion, blending in with their backgrounds, present in skirts, jackets, and bags (at least in Kate Spade — also available in python). Marc Jacobs continued to excite, this time in leopard-print coats and bags.

Suits and such were on the Paris runways too, and it’s no surprise they were in New York.

The suits on the Paris shows were boxy and masculine, while other outfits like jumpsuits nodded towards the utilitarian. In New York, however, the approach is more polite: think tweedy-looking outfits from Elie Tahari, Tory Burch, or else cozy knits with large, girlish collars from Kate Spade and Michael Kors.

Ralph Lauren took the disciplined approach a step further with nautical elements on white outfits, with brass buttons and epaulets. Conservative suiting is also a look, as seen in pantsuits from Boss and Proenza Schouler. The girly details at Marc Jacobs, seen in bows and unapologetic volume in skirts and dresses, also reinforces the trend.