NYC Highlights: Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear

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New York Fashion Week made

the most of the fact that it s an election year.

And the collections themselves were very upbeat.

I think designers seem to feel they needed to show

this consensus that fashion needed

to get into the positive swing for the future.

This show is all about freedom.

[Interviewer] The word I heard all week was optimism.

Yes, I think it s definitely the case

in terms of what we saw in the New York collection.

I mean the colors red, white and blue.

Is Michael celebrating election year?

I m not sure.

Hey, everyone wants sharp, graphic, upbeat.

I haven t been asked to do happy hair or optimistic hair.

I think that s more of an attitude.

I think people are ready to have a little fun.

People are really focused on what is American,

whether it s Obama, whether it s Sarah Palin,

it s all these floating out in the air.

It s a scary time, actually.

You never know who s going to end up in the White House,

who you need to dress.

I have never dressed Mrs. Palin,

but I dressed Ms. McCain,

Mrs. Obama have all my clothes.

Fashion is gone political.

I would like to dress them all. [laughs]

If you need help, call Oscar.

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I think what you see in New York,

always, is designers doing what they do.

The Narciso collection sort of let loose a little bit.

And you saw more prints from him, more colors.

You know that whole bondage theme

that s coming through so strongly from the couture shows,

very nicely combining that punk rock.

[Woman] I think there s a lot of open weave,

there s a lot of texture, there s a lot of nudity.

There was a lot of interesting architecture,

I thought this week.

If Frank Lloyd Wright designed women s clothing,

this is exactly what we would get.

Obviously Francisco was trying to do

something a little bit different.

Did I just hear you say that these clothes flat pack?

Yeah they do.

[laughing]

Francisco Costa came along,

and made things that not only I just totally adore,

just structurally, but that actually fit.

I think that designers who love women

make clothes that make them feel good, not bad.

[Interviewer] When you re wearing Zack,

you things that you wouldn t normally do,

if you were wearing another designer,

does that happen to you?

[laughs] No comment.

New York is what you would call

safe usually, safe clothing.

A lot of times, people complain in New York,

that you don t see high fashion,

you see sports wear.

It s like, here s a skirt, here s a top,

here s a sweater, here s a pair of shoes,

here s a jacket, you know.

And that s your American fashion.

But these were ideas, and it felt more European that way.

I think that Marc Jacobs show was obviously a stand-out,

giving us a new direction,

sort of Eliza Dolittle to those all around the world.

Today there s a much lower percentage

of things that you ll actually see in the store,

on the runway.

It s a lot more show business.

The Rodarte girls are not safe at all,

with what they make, but it s great for New York

and New York needs it.

Sometimes it s good to make a statement

when you get dressed up in the morning.

It is a show, and don t you forget it.

[Interviewer] You think of fashion is hot?

Of course I do.

Your inspiration comes from a million things.

He and I have always been obsessed with the idea

of different things that you would gather

to remind yourself of something.

There was a clarity of vision.

There was a lot more artistry I think in the clothes.

You just look at the way something is made,

it s like outstanding.

Pirouvine was really beautiful.

The way she layered things with the veiling

and the hidden quality of her clothes,

like it was a discovery in many ways.

How can that not be art?

[Interviewer] Do you like fantasy in your fashion?

As long as you re having fun. [laughs]

Clothes are fun, dressing up is fun.

This is like a holiday.

We have to eject some soul into our lives.

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Some people are tame, and other people come from New York.

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