Over the top: New tricks on the catwalk

11 September 2014 - 02:01 By Sylvia McKeown
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New York Fashion Week upped the game this week at the spring/summer 2015 showcase.

From Diane Keaton to Die Antwoord, holograms to single-act plays, New York has finally taken up the challenge set by their artistic European counterparts to expand creativity around fashion.

These are the highlights:

This seat's take

Four 15m 4-D models waltzed across the lake in Central Park on Tuesday night to herald the arrival of Polo for Women, Ralph Lauren's line for woman. The fashion house - which brags it brought tech innovation to American fashion - had outdoor onlookers gaping at Lauren's newest collection interacting with iconic landmarks across the city.

"It's a different experience," said Ralph Lauren vice-president David Lauren.

"You know you won't be able to touch the clothes or see the details, but you'll get an energy from it and a spirit."

On another catwalk, UK designer Gareth Pugh's lack of seating caused a huge commotion among the who's who in the fashion world. His collection dazzled with an investigation of British folklore through a series of projections on Stonehenge-like screens and dancers performing in a tornado of smoke.

Bigger than sound

Up-and-coming favouritesHood by Air and Eckhaus Latta showcased collections with the soothing sounds of live choirs on the runway, and Thom Browne's audience found themselves taken on a journey by Keaton's mesmerising voice. The Oscar-winning actress narrated a story about the way six sisters would approach their outfits every day of the week: "On Mondays they would start with tailoring, and by the weekend they were naked."

But, is it art?

Miley Cyrus's nipple tassel "outfit", worn to Alexander Wang's show this week, was not the only contribution the controversial singer made to NYFW. Her pet art project - sculptures made out of gifts thrown to her by fans during her concerts - adorned the runway of Jeremy Scott's namesake label.

"I love that there's a DIY feel to the sculptures," said Scott about the work of his newest collaborator.

"I want it to be less about a model army and more about a group of cool, individualised people hanging out together."

The biggest departure from the runway aesthetic was in the form of the celebrated one-act play written by Spike Jonez and Jonah Hill for the label Opening Ceremony. The star-studded cast subtly showcased the collection while portraying a story inspired by the human side of fashion and the tumultuous life of a creative.

Believe the  (local) hype

A sea of models fronted by the gorgeous American model/actor Tyson Beckford opened the show by South African fashion's golden boy, David Tlale.

The collection featured dazzling gold patterns paired with exaggerated white shirts and was a huge hit as the models strutted in a pack-like procession around the audience.

However, it was the presence our own stranger-than-strange Die Antwoord - sandwiched between Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon at Alexander Wang's show - that would cause the biggest fire on Twitter and Instagram this season.

Further proof that local talent always has the ability to bring down the house.

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