So, here we are again. Fashion week. A time of new possibilities, a time of promise, and a time of love. For your closet, of course! First up is NYFW, the trailblazer for trends and themes. This year, the things that stand out most are an emphasis on volume, accessories, and whimsy. Fashion is fun again, no doubt about it, and I couldn’t be happier! Here are some of my favorite vintage-inspired collections (images courtesy of Vogue):

1800’s-1910’s

L’Wren Scott

• The Inspiration: The sumptuous and architectural fashions of pre-war England
• The Runway: Scott displayed sensual silks and creamy velvets while individual tins of caviar were being passed out to onlookers, adding to the atmosphere of Gothic sophistication.

Ralph Lauren

• The Inspiration: The grand gossipy atmosphere that is Downtown Abbey
• The Runway: Lauren has had a long-term love affair with pre-war silhouettes and fabrics, so this was as much a modern runway show as it was an ode to his own personal design history.

Rodarte

• The Inspiration: Victorian photographs of Australian architecture, among many others
• The Runway: This was Rodarte’s first collection that translated into real-world clothing, but it still had the same whimsical and romantic elements the Mulleavy sisters have become known for.

1920’s-1940’s

Altuzarra

• The Inspiration: Chic Parisian women from the Forties, among others
• The Runway: Stiff wool jackets were balanced out by shapely skirts and patent-leather boots, and every look was the perfect balance of prim and ethnic, but definitely not boring.

Diane von Furstenberg

• The Inspiration: The whimsically artistic fashions of Elsa Schiaparelli
• The Runway: A smattering of architectural, flattering, and modern dresses and ensembles that set DVF apart from the pack once again, as if she needed that.

Donna Karan

• The Inspiration: Powerful women in menswear, such as film noir seductresses
• The Runway: In an ode to her late husband, Karan’s collection is all about empowerment and strength, things that her well-tailored, masculine-yet-feminine pieces undoubtedly inspire.

1960’s-1970’s

Lacoste

• The Inspiration: The 1966 French Olympic ski team
• The Runway: The collection was full of fashion perfect for both on and off the slopes, with delicious contrasts in colors, textures, and styles.

Thakoon

• The Inspiration: Uptown New York women in the early ‘60s
• The Runway: By focusing on the perverse relationship between sophisticated love and tawdry sex, Thakoon’s collection was simultaneously garish and artistic. 

Tommy Hilfiger

• The Inspiration: Park Avenue and Connecticut women of the Sixties
• The Runway: Hilfiger’s predilection towards preppy and equestrian styles was full throttle in this collection, with punches of modernity thrown in for good measure.