N.Y. Fashion Week: At Altuzarra’s Technicolor dream

NEW YORK -- Color, craftsmanship, comfort and joy were some of the words that Joseph Altuzarra used to describe the inspiration for his fall 2014 collection presented Saturday afternoon during New York Fashion Week.

The look: Bold and sophisticated but relaxed. Classic sportswear in the tradition of old masters Calvin Klein and Bill Blass in neutral tones enhanced with vivid brights.

Key pieces: Double face cashmere wrap coat in navy and cobalt blue; hand-woven pink tapestry-like knit dress with the craftsy look of a fiber art wall hanging; forest green belted blazer and pencil skirt with splices of magenta color; body skimming white silk crepe dress sliced and slit to reveal the body; boxy shearling jackets that brought to mind an haute Patagonia fleece; Technicolor plaid intarsia fur coat.

The verdict: Not the same tour de force as his last collection in terms of establishing a total look. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There were so many great pieces here (those belted coats, the perfect sexy little black dress) that you could wear not just for one season, but for a lifetime. Call them the new classics.

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