February, 11th, 2014

NEW YORK FASHION WEAK | L’OPEN ED

New York Fashion Weak: What does it mean being a “classy woman?”

The few are the classy.

Women keep hearing over and over from any decent men with taste (in different situations) that they want to be in the company of classy women.

Take a first glance at most of the women’s collections in New York this season, and you will see that practically all of them gents want to meet a woman who has “class.” in the fall winter 2014 2015 season ahead.

Indeed, being called “classy” is an ultimate compliment to a woman.

But, what does it really mean being classy? I mean punk-y can be classy as much as victorian can be punk-y. It’s all in the zest. What Fashion editors and pr fashion house keep flooding us with: “effortless” ..

I call it P.A.N.A.C.H.E.

Panache is a rebellion in the canons of bon ton, accordingly to aesthetics. Remember the last Madonna thugs’ look. No no. Age wise. Fashion wise.

French invented it: le ridicule tue.

So, after searching the runways of New York for the answer, I wasn’t very satisfied, because every attempt to define a “classy woman” had one fundamental flaw – a woman can have all the qualities that make her classy according to these designers and still not to have much “class.” Perhaps, Max Azria’s Fur Fury chez BCBG got close in day one, still it felt mademoiselle-esque. Not for Dietrich it, and Grace’s.

Being in minimalistic, clean, and not using taste profanities are certainly qualities that flatter to a style, but if offish… they hardly make you come across as having “class”.

The duo chez Helmut Lang attempted a tour de force for their second collection. It was all “MinimaLustic”. Lust seems to be the new street edge, steering from the burly to the bdsm-y. That New Yorkaise does not talk too much and constantly avoids attention to her persona. Yes. Quietly loud.

Class is a sense of fashion in an integral part of style.

So why are we then in New York for fashion week? Because feminine demeanor and manners matter. Injected these in clothes is what we look for. The “unique” and “effortless” mottos are so roué, dear tastemakers. Alas, ladies, New York in this fall 2014 is morose.

Yet, we are not done; maybe a fashion beat away from .. Class.

Might Ralph Lauren save the rest of this weak week ..

L’ÉDITOR