New York Fashion Week: Jason Wu, muted
Jason Wu, the designer who skyrocketed to fame after Michelle Obama chose his gown for the first (and subsequently second) inaugural ball, is riding high this week after signing a deal to sell a majority stake of his company to InterLuxe, which will allow him to open stores and expand his business.
The spring collection he showed Friday at New York Fashion Week was titled, “Beauty,” pure and simple, and it was more restrained than we’re used to from the designer.
Wu also introduced a new handbag, the Diane, inspired by his “perennial muse,” actress Diane Kruger.
The inspiration: A refined take on American sportswear, according to show notes, as well as the impeccable style of Charlotte Rampling.
The look: Minimal, at times to a fault. Wu worked with what’s emerging as one of the key colors of the season, green, in many forms, as well as neutral stone, navy and burnt umber.
Key pieces: Green muted floral cargo jacket and side slit pencil skirt. Olive suede wrap dress. Sparkly camo pencil skirt. Burnt umber sparkly wrap dress.
The verdict: This collection felt a little flat. Wearable, certainly. But where was the emotion? It’s hard to imagine any of these clothes jumping off the rack and screaming, “Buy me!”
