BCBG Fall 2015

photos by Mariana Leung

Designers really went back to the 1970s for autumn. The BCBG fall 2015 collection by Max and Lubov Azria was all about groovy knits and folksy embroidery. The color palette had a range of earthy neutral colors like sand and tan. Brighter colors included red, orange, brown, and navy. 

The design team worked the colors into a color blocked patterns, something I have seen from them in the last few seasons. They also worked in some faux fur for when the weather gets cold. Being a West Coast based fashion brand, many of their team probably doesn't see the winter, so naturally, lots of layering was involved to accommodate all climates. There was a lot of thread embroidery that emulated the techniques and patterns the design team saw in their foreign travels. This added to the global nomad hippie vibe of the overall runway. 

I saw less handbags in this show than previous ones. BCBG looks like they finally graduated from the flat envelope clutch to the bigger, chunkier envelope clutch. In footwear, it was all about the tan leather boot. A lot of tan leather boots.

No doubt, NY Fashion Week was all about the 1970s. Some designers went with luxurious disco glam. BCBG Fall 2015 went with bohemian chic. There's a look for everyone in that decade.

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BCBG Max Azria Spring 2015

Spring on the BCBG runway had an Eastern, Boho vibe. There were variations of kimono silhouettes. The color palette was pale, pastel, with lots of white, more white, pink and seafoam.

Lantern sleeves and wide obi belts with trapunto stitching were prominent details. The few prints were truly pretty. They had a layered look that at first looked like an abstract Japanese floral, but were actually inspired by a color reform over-dying technique Lubov Azria observed at a home décor boutique. There were also delicate embroidered details using two different sized pearlized sequins or intricate threadwork. I can see these styles being adapted into a casual beach wedding.

The easy garment silhouettes are very West Coast. Either that, or their fitting team just wanted to make sure that every style could fit everyone (or they don’t know how to fit a garment and playing it safe). The shapeless garments were a trick BCBG as used in past season, so it must be working for them. The exception to that was the quilted renditions of the current moto jacket trend but executed in a super feminine way.

photos by Mariana Leung

BCBG finally moved past the envelope clutch handbag shape they were sending down the runway for several seasons in a row. Instead, they have a cute round handbag similar to a minaudiere with a long over shoulder strap or a large retro styled hobo bag.

The models hair was long, flowing and natural. The makeup was natural with a bit of sun-kissed bronzer. 

If you are looking forward to a California by way of Asia look for spring, the BCBG Max Azria collection for spring 2015 is it.

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Max Azria Spring 2014

Welcome to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.  The BCBG show was my first at the venue for spring 2014.  Spring floral prints and pale pastel colors were in the air and on the runway.

It was a chaotic, overcrowded affair with a bunch of European photographers who were disrespectful and didn't know the etiquette.  Worse, some doughy first timer (but not young) from Houston whined and complained, then did the most offensive thing of all, he ran into the middle of the pit AFTER the show started.  If the designer is missing images from the first few looks, blame Houston.  This was not a great start to the day.

Thankfully, an artful collection from the designers improved my mood a bit.  There were some constructed, draped separates that were a nice departure from the over simplified flat handkerchief styles from a year ago.  The abstract brush print looked very pretty with the feminine florals.  There was one embroidered top that had a contrast white against the black base fabric that looked folksy and elegant.

This season, the design team got their stuff together and churned out a collection that will make their fans very happy.  Glad to see a label moving forward not backward.

Are you a BCBG fan?  How did you like this collection compared to the past?  (more photos here)

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BCBGeneration Swim from South Beach

Young, sport and strong, these are the target women for BCBG Max Azria's swimwear collection for junior label BCBGeneration.  Their runway presentation at the SLS Hotel in South Beach was a mix of wearable, realistic swimsuits for ladies with active lifestyles.  Higher-cut bottoms, tank suits with graphic text prints or geometric patterns were fun for the beach.  

Keeping the design philosophy, Max Azria's daughter Joyce Azria was the creative director behind this label.  Perhaps this is why these suits were (slightly) more modest and the shoes more realistic for the poolside than some of its sassier competitors at the Raleigh Hotel.  As with the previous year, I found that the models also had more realistic bodies than the uber-tanned Amazons of other shows as well, but certainly looked as good as any catwalk you could wish for.  Here's to not falling out or falling down next time you take a dip...

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Fall 2013

Max Azria's BCBG line is one of the first to kick off Mercedes-Benz fashion week at Lincoln Center for me (Nicholas K is the actually start, but my co-host from Ladies Who Lunch thankfully covers that for me).  The fall 2013 collection showed lots of layers in save black and cream.

They showed more fur collars like their Fall 2012 collection.  They layered leather with eyelet, warm-looking textured fabrics infused with the patterns of mosaic tiles. Colors included navy and deep maroon in addition to the majority of black and cream.    Accessories included a few over-sized envelope clutches, which clearly must be a big seller for them, as they have been the key bag on the runway for third season in a row...

BCBG has never been a leading trendsetter label.  If the formula isn't broken, why fix it?

photos by David TW Leung

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Hot Flavors - Cool Style

Can you believe it is November? For fall 2012 fashion trends, it means it is time to turn up the heat!  Designers for New York Fashion Week brought out a palette of fiery colors.  Designers also kept you cozy with the big fuzzy trend of using fur.

This has been the year of the Girl on Fire.  It only seems appropriate that a hot color palette for fall ignites your wardrobe.  How gorgeous are the flame-like silk prints of Theia’s gown and Monique Lhuillier’s day dress?  Anna Sui brings out the fiery hues in different patterns while Pavoni, Josie Natori and Monique Lhuillier create heated silhouettes from flared chiffon, silk crepe or shiny leather 

Fur can be super luxurious if you have the budget.  If you don’t, accessories make a dramatic statement, like a big fur hat or shrug from Pamella Roland.  Do certain fashion choices weight on your conscience?  It doesn’t have to be real fur to rock this trend.  Designers Betsey Johnson and BCBG Max Azria strike a dramatic look without harming animals.  The quality and colors of faux fur are fantastic these days when accenting a fabulous coat.  Of course, a great furry texture works too.  Creating volume with loops, fringe or even feathers can pimp out the most basic silhouette.  Anna Sui’s great fall coats and sweaters make the artsy crafty technique work very well.

Photos by Mariana Leung and David TW Leung

So has fall 2012 fashion got your mercury rising? The only chills here are the ones of stylish excitement when I flip through the runway collections.  When the temperature drops, I am so ready to shop!

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by General Mills via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills”

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Herve Leger Spring 2013

What happens when a the designers of multiple labels are incestuous? BCBG Max Azria clearly crossed teams with Herve Leger's spring 2013 collection.  The color palettes were similar in the black, cream, cafe brown and grey.  The prism-like prints and contrast color block details were similar in both collections.  Envelope clutches was the key  handbag statement in both runway shows as well.  Cut shape leather vest/corset/belt accessories were seen on both catwalks.

Is that to say I didn't like what was on the runway? No. There were plenty of looks I liked at both Herve Leger and BCBG, I just couldn't tell you which was which.

One of the big reasons that Herve Leger looked too much like BCBG was the near absence of their signature elastic band dresses.  They had a few skirts with it, but don't fix what isn't broken! Red carpet celebrities and statuesque fashionistas count on those dresses to squeeze them into a va va voom body.  They were the Spanx of cocktail dresses.  What are they going to do now?

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Spring 2013

BCBG Max Azria showed a sexy spring collection with a simple color palette for NY Fashion Week.  Black, white, grey and pops of coral seem to be the only colors they will offer next season.  The looks were a mix of edgy leather, chiffon and lace with some faded floral prints.  The silhouettes were a lot more constructed than the previous fall season.

I was surprised at how much of the runway show was very dark when every other designer showed brighter, lighter colors.  I wonder how many of the styles were  a spillover from holiday 2012?  There were a few styles that had bandage-like details, similar to their sister line of Herve Leger.  That indicates to me that their collective design teams are likely overworked when styles overlap like that.

Handbags, which are very popular from BCBG were variation upon variation of the big envelope clutch.  They have been offering the envelope clutch for several seasons now, so it must be a bestseller, becoming a signature item, (or the overworked design team just gave up).  The size and scale were quite similar, as well as the styling and finish.

Whether redundancies were in this runway show or not, I still look forward to shopping the clothes I viewed in 2013.  

Full collection:

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Top Jewelry Trends from NY Fashion Week

Love bling?  Me too.  After sorting through all my NY Fashion week photographs I found the top three trends for Fall 2012 that you can wear now for spring!  Ms. FABulous has partnered with Ice Jewelry to bring you a collection inspired by the runway.

 Bold colors featured on many runways.  From Vivienne Tam, to Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino to BCBG Max Azria.  In jewelry, this meant large, framed colored stones or chunk bright enamel.  Check out the green onyx bangle and bluHVG GYM WPe topaz onyx earrings for this look.

 Vintage glamour was a top trend for evening wear designers.  Zang Toi brought lots of drama at his show with old Hollywood sirens in red and black.  Ruby lips, jet crystal and some Eastern influence from Tadashi Shoji and Josie Natori truly brought elegance to the runway.  Look for the multi-strand jet necklace or garnet chokers to dress up the most basic of outfits.

Chandeliers earrings were all over the funkiest designers like Betsey Johnson, to sophisticated designers like Zang Toi.  Glitzy drops also elevated the rustic charm of Candela's fashion presentation as well.  My must-have for the season are diamond and sterling silver earrings or a pair of dangling cognac quartz beauties!

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NY FASHION WEEK: 1970's Fur at BCBG Fall 2012

Fall is cozy and hot for BCBG Max Azria.  The West Coast designer's show yesterday morning was a mix of bold colorblocking, fur accents and 1970's silhouettes.  The palette was warm, with mustard cherry red, orange, different shades of brown as well as deep shapes of indigo.  Skirts and dresses were long, the fabrics soft.  

Handbags were big co-stars.  Large, structured satchels, over-sized envelopes, fur carryalls and clutches coordinated with the looks on the runway.  Straps and flaps were contrast against the body of the bag.  

Maybe this is a really good sign for Fall 2012, or I just really like this label, but I can't wait to shop this Fall!

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Spring 2012

Max Azria's brought simple dressing to the forefront for spring 2012. By simple dressing, I mean garment after garment of flat panels hanging off shoulders, swing silhouettes, and an avoidance of sleeves at any cost...

Look after look contained big easy shapes that looked like it could be one-size-fits-all flowing off the body. I wondered if the design team or pattern makers were going for ultimate comfort or were just too lazy to fit anything to the body this season.

There was lots of color blocking in royal blue, turquoise, yellow and orange. Big contrasting colors with prints that had tribal inspiration, but were vague about which culture's tribe. They were more of an updated, digital version of a lost civilization.

If you indulged too much over the holiday season, but still want to make a bold entrance next spring, you wouldn't find a more forgiving collection than BCBG.

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Fashion Flanked Whitney Art Party

Artistically inclined fashion designers and cultured celebs came out to the Whitney Art Party Wednesday night. The works of John Baldessari, Terence Koh, Matthew Brannon and Marilyn Minter were up for silent auction to raise funds for the Whitney Independent Study program. The initiative strives to educate future curators and art historians.

Designers in attendance included host Max Azria and patrons Jason Wu, Adam Lippes and Francisco Costa. The stylish event saw the likes of Tinsley Mortimer, Alexis Bledel and Bradley Cooper perusing the modern art. Many of the guests paid tribute to the hosting designer by wearing Herve Leger and BCBG dresses.

Photos by Steve Eichner. Art print by Marilyn Minter

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NY Fashion Week: BCBG Fall 2010

The BCBG collection for Fall 2010 was a cohesive display of cool urban chic. Sleek blacks, greys, acid yellow, navy and silver flowed into drapey tunics and dresses. The silhouettes were embellished by graphic bands of wide stripes and sprinkles of gun metal sequins. The feminine but somber palette also a lot of asymmetrical hems and necklines.

The BCBG handbags that were carried were larger, handheld clutches. Soft square and oblong shapes were made in soft bodies (instead of a framed bag), almost like a feminized, dainty briefcase.

Spotted in the front row: Michelle Williams, Maggie Rizer

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NY Fashion Week: BCBG Max Azria

You can always tell there is a warm front coming from the West Coast. California-based BCBG by Max Azria showed their Spring 2010 collection on the runway Thursday morning at Bryant Park. The show consisted of very pretty, flirty dresses in bright prints and bright colors reminiscent of the 1980’s. Shirring, ruffles and banded details added interest to body conscious (though mostly flattering!) silhouettes. Some of the banded styles had hints of Max Azria’s sister label, Herve Leger. Think Leger Lite (no bi-lingual pun intended).

For the red carpet diva who likes to use her purse as a prop? The models sauntered down the runway with shiny metallic clutches. The shapes were retro to the 1940’s-1960’s, delicate minaudieres, and a few clamshells (just big enough for lipstick, phone and car keys). Each bag was embellished with a long dark tassel, perfect for wrapping around the wrist and flicking dramatically to make a point.

Can’t wait until 2010 to shop these looks? BCBG can cater to the eager. Their website offered two of their runway looks for sale immediately after the show.

Spotted in the front row: Amerie, Anna Wintour, Amanda Bynes, Nina Garcia.

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