Photos by Walter Grio. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York. Text by Baille Gelwicks.
With the colors, silhouettes, and mood inspired by India, Vera Wang’s SS 2013 collection was rich. The show started off crisp and clean in all white. A circle skirt paired with a cut away jacket looked polished yet undone. Leaving the sleeves unbuttoned revealed a hint of skin on an otherwise “buttoned-up” ensemble which added a little sex appeal to the mix. Who said white had to be boring? Lace jacquard tops and cotton eyelet skirts introduced texture into the series.
Along came color in all the wonderful shades of the jewels India has to offer. Azure blue printed dresses were either worn short and full, or long and swingy. Purple amethyst arrived in a daring off the shoulder dress perfect for a night at a beach bar, followed by a cocktail ready lace dress with bejeweling at the waist. The sheer trend popped up again with the lace extending beyond the lining of the dress to give a glimpse at those gorgeous gams. Purple’s complimentary color emerald green appropriately came next. The deep, rich color complemented the lace jacquard bermuda shorts, sheer fabrics, and lace. These pieces certainly were meant to be worn at night time as it offers such a luxurious feel to each design. Again the lace extended past the lining of the dresses to reveal the skin below which so seductively peeked through. The Indian influence can be seen most clearly in the tunic, worn overtop flowy pants. Hints of gold lace made the looks more regal than before. A lovely citrine wallpaper-like print transitioned into a gold tone that ended the show.
Wang always does such a beautiful job of transitioning between looks at her shows. It is this that makes the difference between showing a cohesive group rather than a collection that is disconnected. Her use of color and design has a flow to it that never leaves one wondering, “Where did that come from?”
In her Spring/Summer collection, Vera Wang favored full skirts, tunic tops, high necklines, bermuda shorts, and a heavy dose of lace. Bejeweled necklines and waist lines could not be any more regal when paired with lustrous lace in deep jewel tones. A disheveled bun kept the collection from looking too “Hollywood.” Rather it lent an ethnic feel that made this collection even more exotic. Gold sandals tied at the ankle with a silk ribbon grounded the collection. A neutral tone that blended with the skin let the clothes’ texture and tailoring speak for themselves. This versatile collection can be worn to a party at the country club, to a black tie party, wedding party, or rooftop party.
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