Bites from the Big Apple

We just got back from Fashion Week in New York City - always one of our favourite events of the year because New York is without a doubt the most high-energy place to be.

One of the great benefits of being in New York are the fashionable people you see wherever you go. Runway shows and trunk shows are great, but nothing beats authentic street style. The highlight for us in this regard was our visit to the Met’s David Hockney exhibition. The crowd was classy, elegant and very well-dressed. And since the weather was relatively non-cooperative, we saw some of the most gorgeous winter coats and boots.

But the Hockney exhibit brought us back to the upcoming spring/summer season. We love the vibrancy of his art, the richness of his palate and the positivity it exudes. It was a real treat.

And our Met visit came at just the right time too, because on March 1, for the first time in over 70 years, the museum is instituting a mandatory $25 entry fee. Until now, it’s always operated as a “pay-what-you-can” attraction with a suggested entry fee of $25. And surprise, surprise — patrons have been choosing to pony up less. The good news is that the $25 ticket is good for three days so no one feels pressure to see it all in one shot. That was a smart decision.

From a clothing perspective, the rich textures we saw in New York mirrored what we saw and bought on our whirlwind January buying trip to Europe — Paris, Milan, Munich and Brussels in 18 days!

We saw a lot of velvet (we were wondering when that was going to make a comeback). We also saw some beautiful animal prints and faux-furs. It’s incredible how far faux-fur has come from a realism perspective. You’d never in a million years know they weren’t real. It’s a big win for the industry and the planet.

And speaking of the environment, green was definitely the “Couleur Du Jour.” Apple green and olive green were the most prevalent, but the entire spectrum was represented. Between that and the shades of blue, it was all very positive.

Interestingly, we also saw a lot of plaid. In that way, there was definitely a ’90’s feel to the show.

Now we’re back to the store and getting our clients ready for spring. If you’re by, come say hi and take a peak at our new Spring collection.