Doll's Eye View: New York Fashion Week: Spring/Summer 2017

It's always interesting to see how fashions evolve from season to season. Right after Labor Day, New York City kicked off the month long "Fashion Week" events which is always the biggest, longest of the major four fashion capitals. There were many show room presentations. Those along with many of the catwalk revealed a "back to wearable clothes" revolution. And that's really okay with me because, at the end of the day....clothes should be designed to be worn, not to serve as theatrical costume.

Inasmuch as there are a number of new visitors to this site, I want to first explain what you are seeing on this post. The premise of this blog is to provide a direct link between real fashion and clothes for the fashion doll. So for our purposes, fashion trends are most important to the process. Each season, I present "Doll's Eye View of Fashion Week."  All of the original model's heads have been replaced with those of our favorite dolls. This is to help both inspire as well as provide a hint as to what the look could resemble on the doll. In addition, I choose a few outfits to make (photos of dressed doll standing next to the original model) to illustrate my own interpretation. This gives a reasonable idea of what you can expect. When looking over the catwalk shows, I choose styles that I feel will translate well to the scale of a 12" doll. If there is a look in particular you'd like, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention so that at a later date I can feature a tutorial..

Let the show begin!

Dolly Long Legs

There are two principal looks: super short and long. The super short look of a micro-length coat dress or jacket and swing skirt is the perfect (and sexiest) way to kick off Spring. Note how the silhouette pulls into the body at the waist and note the reappearance of super sized shoulders! These looks are best when accessorize with over the knee (or thigh high) socks or boots.

Breath of Fresh Air!

Pure white cotton! It's clean, cool and a timeless approach to summer whether the story is about pants or dresses. Notice how trousers are fluid and have moved away from skinny jeans. Next summer is also about extremes in hemlines. When they are not super short, dresses are way past the knees and sometimes down to the ankles. Everything is easy to wear. Nothing is complicated.

Panting for More....

And while on the subject of pants.....here are a few more ways for dolly to wear them--full trousers, bells, palazzos and jumpsuits. Though colors favor a neutral palette, look for floral prints as a pretty alternative.

A Flash of Flesh

 

Peek-a-boo! Look for the bare midriff look to be big next summer. Along with that are also tops or dresses that show a sliver of skin. What's interesting here is how designers have reinterpreted looks from the bygone eras: 40's, 60's and 90's. Lengths are super long or super short.

This dress by Alexander Wang translates perfectly into a very pretty dolly dress especially when cut out of English cotton lace. China's wearing a simple cotton bra with ribbon that radiates from mid-bust and wraps around the waist.

 

Bea, on the other hand, wears Michael Kors "Summer of 1942" look. This is another bra worn with short-shorts (cut like old fashion panties) in a micro floral print. Note how a self belt marks the natural waist of the doll.

Yikes, It's Stripes!

A trend that started this year, look for more stripes to continue on through next summer. There's lots of variety here: horizontal, vertical, radial or gingham checks.

Pretty Young Thing

Get dolly out of those skinny jeans and stretch dresses and into something more romantic. The look here is soft with a bit of swing, especially when it comes to the classic shirtwaist dress (Zak Posen).

Make Your Point

Asymmetrical hemlines  or...even better, in handkerchief points are big! What we particularly love about the Prabal Gurung styles is how a matte jersey or knit is paired with a colored satin or silk in the same palette..

A knit T-shirt worn with a handkerchief pointed satin skirt is worn with a pop of color thanks to the
satin bra Laeticia wears underneath.

How Does Your Garden Grow

Next spring will expect to see some very pretty dresses blooming in dolly wardrobes. Designers were not bashful about selecting delicate florals and embroidered flowers for day and evening dresses. This is a very girly look with bare shoulders, sheer fabrics and the classic slip dress.

A Graphic Affair

We love the stark contrast of black and white color blocking used in otherwise very simple silhouette. It is the simplicity of the style and the drama of contrasting values that makes these looks a stand-out.

Kate is stunning in her black and white jumpsuit. I used a rayon knit to get a nice drape over the body and she can slip in and out with little problem.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

But not everything is neural. For night, red comes out with a vengeance in sometimes, big, bold shapes. We particularly love Christian Siriano's dramatic strapless gown (center). Note how all of the dresses have lots of movement built in thanks to volume!

Summer Breeze

This story is largely built on the use of softly colored sheers with layers that seem to blur the edges. The dresses are simple though the drama is in the details: tone on tone embroidery on pearl grey chiffon slip dress, organza petals that float about of a flared skirt. Note how some of the materials are iridescent, others have a pearly sheen. Everything is soft, feminine and very girly.

The Slink

It's lean, it's thin, it's chic and it's magic. This a very modern story where the gowns are lean and the drama is spelled out in details. One shouldered, strapless or a maze of tiny straps, this is about taking a classic look and updating it with small details to make it 2017-worthy.

Simple and sexy, Anna is caught in a maze of tiny straps that wrap around the body over a hip hugging narrow skirt.

The girls weren't all that thrilled with London Fashion Week. The shapes and silhouettes were too overpowering and for the moment, they aren't quite sure what to do with the handful of items they found. For the most part, our next big focus will take everybody to Italy for Milan Fashion week.


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