Revamping the conservative: Vera Wang’s spring styles

Megan Murphy ’17 comments on Vera Wang’s spring fashion.

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Maria Bueno

Wang draws from a professional atmosphere in her spring apparel.

Vera Wang is known for balancing modern designs with traditional gracefulness. An employee under Ralph Lauren and magazine “Vogue”, Wang has been in the fashion industry for decades, and her line has been coveted by celebrities since its start in 1990.  According to Wang, she wants her new 2016 Spring Collection, which premiered in September of 2015, to accomplish the sense of “a girl who’s extremely controlling and buttoned-up, but in another life or fantasy life she becomes something else.” She emulates this with usage of strictly black, white, and red, with a dash of little crystal-encrusted pieces along the way. There are three highlights of her show: schoolgirl, trapeze dresses and classic tuxedo jackets and trouser skirts.

Schoolgirl:

This classic look with pleated skirts and buttoned-up shirts has been booming in the fashion world for decades, but Wang takes it to a whole new level. She employs the collared-shirt style and long flowing skirts that represents a classy vibe, but uses sheer collared shirts.  It’s tasteful and conservative, as pleated skirts and buttoned-up shirts are, but have a  touch of minimalism as the colors are black and white.

Trapeze Dresses:

Popular in the 20s,  Wang brings back the style of trapeze dress, which takes us back decades ago with the glittering of the Swarovski crystals, the eye-catching cherry red,  and the flow of the dress as the model walks. Comfortable in any weather, trapeze dresses can be accessorized or worn simply. “ I wear them all the time with like a jean jacket or a simple necklace. Or if I want to dress fancy I’ll add some wedges. I own around 6 of them, because why wear jeans when you can wear a dress?” junior Maeve McIntyre gushes about the glorious style.

Classic Tuxedo Jackets and Trouser Skirts:

Fine tailored- suits were something Wang had in mind when she designed her new collection.  But, instead of using the typical pant suit or blazer, she uses tuxedo-inspired vests, trousers, and butchered blazers. Although, tailored suits and blazers may be appropriate for the workforce, that was not the intention for this part of Wang’s collection, as she yet again combines a sort of punk-rock with  vintage.

Always finding a way to create something new out of something classic, Wang brings back the always-popular collared shirts, bandeaus, and fabricated skirts, but with new twists and turns such as destroyed blazers and tuxedo jackets.  “She connects edgy with simple. I would definitely wear one of those gorgeous glittering dresses for my pageants” junior Helen Staren states. A certain appreciation of the conventional style of pants and skirts is due, but, Wang’s true flare resides in the risks she takes with different elements. She brings a working-girl meets party-girl feeling to the table in her Spring 2016 collection, which I’m sure will be on the backs of celebrities in no time.