New York Fashion Week: Trina Turk visits L.A.’s Flower Mart
Downtown Los Angeles’ Flower Mart was the starting point for the Trina Turk spring collection, a pop arty display of overgrown floral prints with whimsical jewelry, colorful beach bags and Turk’s take on an old favorite, the Teva sandal, in a chic animal print.
But what really made the New York Fashion Week presentation pop was Turk’s decision to let the models keep their phones while they stood on platforms in front of the crowds. “We decided not to fight it,” Turk laughed. Cleverly, the designer gave them branded Trina Turk-printed phone covers to use, and told them to Instagram the experience. So the models had something to do other than stand there awkwardly like mannequins for an hour, and they worked for her twice.
Genius.
Both the Trina Turk and Mr. Turk menswear collections were featured -- Mr. Turk is designed by the L.A. designer’s husband, Jonathan Skow.
The inspiration: “We started going to the Flower Mart when Jonathan was a stylist, and he had to get flowers for photo shoots,” Turk said. “I would say I go there now once a month. You can get huge armloads of flowers for $30. Every time I go there I think maybe I should just be a florist.”
The look: Happy chic.
Key pieces: Sunset sweater, blue wave print shorts; white pompom trimmed hoodie; tropical tiger print men’s blazer over green polo sweater and salmon-colored pants; perforated poppy print skirt worn with striped sweater; hot pink palazzo jumpsuit; necklaces with cellophane flowers or colorful beaded chain links; piled-on bracelets in rainbow brights; wide headbands; raffia clutches and canvas drawstring beach bags.
The verdict: Turk 2.0 with renewed energy. A wide assortment of fabulous prints (especially on the men’s jackets, which I wish they would offer for women); sophisticated pieces, such as the palazzo jumpsuit, and lots of thoughtful details and extras to fill out the Turk lifestyle. Nobody does fun in the sun better.
