It’s hard to believe that, before even a single flower has bloomed, Fall/Winter 2014 Fashion Week – er, month – is upon us. But we’ll forgive the fashion industry’s obsessive compulsive need to work ahead, and just revel in the colossal beauty and artistry that’s certain to be present on the runways. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done when there are hundreds of shows each season, so we picked the ones we’re looking forward to most. Tom Ford, Versace, and Lanvin: here we come.
NEW YORK
Oscar de la Renta (February 11, 6:30 p.m. at 11 W 42nd St (25th Fl)): Expect Oscar’s usual sophisticated uniform, but with a twist. We’re thinking glitter, pops of color, and major hardware on his always-figure-flattering sheaths and separates.
Jeremy Scott (February 12, 1 p.m. at Milk Studios, 450 W. 15th St.): To be honest, you can never know what to expect at Jeremy Scott, but we know it’ll be interesting, to say the least. Last fall, the show featured bright checkered boots and punk-y message sweaters.
Marc Jacobs (February 13, 8 p.m. at 69th Regiment Factory, 68 Lexington Ave (25th/26th St)): We’re crossing our fingers that Jacobs will continue his adoration of 50s silhouettes with a grunge flair. High-waisted shorts and black leather, coming right up!
LONDON
Mary Katrantzou (February 16, 6 p.m.): Prints, prints, and more prints – and a whole lotta color. Get your dose of funky at Mary Katrantzou, where structured, patterned pieces reign supreme.
Christopher Kane (February 17 at 10 a.m.): Kane quite literally makes fashion a science. Who else could turn heat maps of the brain and flower anatomy into something uber-cool to wear? Trust us, you don’t want to miss his next experiment.
Tom Ford (February 17 at 7 p.m.): Tom Ford’s pieces used to be a little on the safe side, until a few seasons ago when he premiered sequined KABOOM explosions on minimalist gowns. We can’t wait to see if he keeps pushing the envelope.
MILAN
DSquared2 (Date TBA): Holy chic! DSquared2 has been having a total Parisian moment the past few seasons, complete with berets, pencil skirts, and lace. We’re hoping the streak will continue, because damn, it’s good.
Dolce & Gabbana (Date TBA): D&G is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite design house, thanks to their fabulous looks incorporating Italian history. We’ve adored everything from their Byzantine-era frocks to their Roman coin earrings. This season may be simpler though, as foreshadowed by their new fragrance, Dolce.
Versace (Date TBA): We’re usually a fan of more ladylike getups, but sometimes being bad feels so, so good. Maybe Donatella’s leather, dominatrix-loving side will come out to play yet again? We can only hope.
PARIS
Lanvin (Date TBA): Lanvin has been charming our pants off recently with some adorable tea-length skirts and quirky jewelry galore. We want more!
Miu Miu (Date TBA): Again, total Parisian-chic. What we’ve been loving most about Miu Miu lately, though, is the figure flattering direction they’ve been going in. Who doesn’t need a waist-skimming LBD? Hopefully they’ll feature more of their unique accessories too, like polka dot scarves and zippered heels.
Saint Laurent (Date TBA): Say what you will, but ever since “Yves” was dropped from their name, Saint Laurent has been flirting with our inner 90s child. More plaid, studs, and leather, please!
Kate Foster is a hodgepodge of seemingly unrelated titles: writer. Blogger. Beauty and fashion junkie. Cat devotee. Art history buff. Harry Potter nerd. Cheesy 90's television fan. Sometimes-gamer. Seasonal sculptor. Mostly she’s a music enthusiast. While her heart and soul belong to 50's and 60's crooners like Etta James, Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley, one shouldn’t be surprised to find her listening to Lady Gaga or Jay-Z. Most days, though, she’s in an indie-punk mood somewhere in between - she counts the Pixies, the White Stripes, M83, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs as a few of her favorites. And while you’ll typically see her bobbing her head calmly at concerts, occasionally she pulls out all the stops for bands like the Black Lips. She treasures her bruises like a child. After graduating from the University of Georgia with degrees in Journalism and Art History, Kate aspires to move to New York City. There, she hopes to continue to write. She also plans on pretending to understand the art at MoMA and stuffing her face with cronuts and one dollar pizza. Kate’s heroes range from Oscar de la Renta and Mindy Kaling to Ernest Hemingway and Rupert Giles. She practically inhales iced coffee on a daily basis. Her favorite color is yellow, and like Buddy the Elf, she considers candy a major food group. She has dreams almost every night involving the coolest architecture and interior design, and has no idea what it means. Seriously, what does that mean?!