By Brandy Voirin/reporter
Fashion Week, a celebration of clothing’s hottest trends, concluded recently in New York.
Each year, people either love or hate the carefully orchestrated looks.
Adjunct fashion merchandising instructor Carmen Carter, though, says it really doesn’t matter.
“Runway looks are not relatable to real people, Carter said. “Most of the looks are over the top and unrealistic in sizing for the average consumer.”
Some students, however, when shown some of the top Fashion Week designs, saw many relatable, comfortable looks on the runway.
Designer John Elliot had a signature sweatshirt with side zip hoodie, extra long stacked sweatpants, paired with Nikes, of course.
Then Designer Tommy Hilfiger kicked off the brand’s 30th anniversary by combining football and fashion. The collection nodded to the past with swing coats, cashmere capes, varsity sweaters, pleated skirts, oversize football jerseys, ribbed tights and ponchos. One could call it college chic.
“I have seen some strange clothes on campus, so perhaps strange is in,” NE student Christian Cenicerous said. “Who’s to say the runway is not relatable to real people? What’s strange to me might not be strange to you.”
But not every consumer feels the same way.
NE student Charleen Falls thinks most runway looks are overdone.
“I’m not sure where anyone would wear many runway looks, but every once in a while, I see something that catches my eye, and I want to buy it now,” she said.
Falls said most looks aren’t in her budget. Prices range from $350 for a Rebecca Minkoff blouse to $1,100 for a Fausto Puglisi dress.
However, many designers are making budget-friendly versions of their collections for retail chains such as Target and Kohl’s.
“Designers are a large part of the economy and have to adapt fashion collections to render them acceptable and saleable in retail environments,” Carter said. “Fashion shows are entertainment. We want to see the avant-garde, the artistic side of this business, and designers are happy to play this role.”
Although the runway tides have changed for now, Carter still believes students should use the runway cues for inspirational purposes.
