Bell Sleeves and Tie Dye: NYFW Spring 2016

Backstage at Altuzarra Spring 2016 via WWD

It was a busy weekend for me—parties, blowout football games, birthday brunches, etc.—but I still had plenty of time to check up on the latest shows from New York Fashion Week! Here are some of my favorite collections that debuted over the weekend:

Altuzarra 

Altuzarra is always a season favorite, and this season was no exception. Tie dye and California motifs are already appearing as a dominant trend, but Joseph Altuzarra always has a way of turning a simple idea on its head. This collection was totally a "California surfer girl grows up and moves to the Upper East Side, spending her summer in East Hampton" kind of vibe. The use of asymmetrical toggles was exciting, and the mixing of T-shirts and crocodile is the kind of high-low luxe look that the fashion industry goes crazy over.

Derek Lam

Another fashion favorite with another knockout collection. Derek Lam still has a bit of an obsession with seventies motifs, but this season it was all about combining the wild west with the New England prep set. A predominantly red, white, and blue color palette with lots of stripes and and prim lace hinted towards the later, while suede and prairie skirts suggested the former. One thing's for certain: too-long bell sleeves are going to be everywhere. Who needs gloves!?

Jason Wu

Everyone's favorite glamorous designer turned out a gorgeous collection for spring, with looks that were both light and airy and dark and mysterious. Wu always makes clothes for the society woman with a bit of a dark side, and the abundance of burgundy and forest green alongside lacy whites and Warhol-style floral prints emphasized this dichotomy. I love how Jason Wu always brings a touch of darkness to his collections, and this season the end result was phenomenal.

Rosie Assoulin

During New York Fashion Week, there are plenty of gorgeous clothes, but very few designers have the guts to let creativity take the reign rather than the consumer. Rosie Assoulin is perhaps the most creative designer around, always showcasing inventive new silhouettes and combining colors and textures one would never think to put together. Ruffle dresses over flared pants, sequined bras over crisp button-downs, bodysuits with low-rise pants...these are just some of the ingenious layering ideas that Leandra Medine & Co. are sure to adopt immediately. I hope Rosie Assoulin gets some more red carpet recognition, because her garments are truly amazing.

Sally LaPointe

Designers who appeal to how we actually dress are just as important. Sally LaPointe knows what the modern woman is wearing, and right now it's all about length and comfort. Flowy pants, floor-trimming trench coats, and comfy knits rocked the LaPointe runway, but there were plenty of sequins and touches of dramatic red to spice things up. I loved the clear plastic accents on shirts and skirts too; there's a futuristic vibe to it that is really cool and adds to the intrigue of a look.

What fashion shows have been your favorites so far?