N.Y. Fashion Week: At DKNY, ‘real people’ on the runway
NEW YORK -- DKNY designer Donna Karan celebrated individual beauty during her runway show Sunday afternoon at New York Fashion Week, casting real people (musician Angel Haze, artist Stewart Uoo, tattoo artist/pro skateboarder James Quaintance, entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman, DJ Chelsea Leyland and more) alongside fashion models in a celebration of the city’s diversity.
Neck tats, nose rings, dreadlocks and bodacious curves were on display. The effect? If you didn’t realize how many beautiful people live in New York, you do now.
The inspiration: New York mash-up. People on the street “personalizing as they go along,” the show notes said.
The look: Street meets sport with a touch of ‘80s/’90s nostalgia.
Key pieces: Neoprene bomber and “D” varsity jackets, knit letter sweaters, black-and-white striped shearling coats. Sequin sleeve sweatshirt worn with long, black pleated vinyl skirt. Mixed houndstooth print big shirt and pleated pants. Tiger stripe sweater dress. Platform creeper shoes
The scene: A scrum of photographers was hovering over pop star Rita Ora, the face of the DKNY spring campaign, who sat in the front row near Zoey Deutch and Victoria Justice.
The verdict: Using “real people” as models has certainly been done before, but it’s always nice to see it again. And with the 25-year-old DKNY brand’s retro appeal and popularity on social media, where personalization and individuality are king, it made perfect sense. The collection was a lot of fun.
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