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NY Fashion Week: All you need to know

Clothes and designers from NYFW 2015 to keep your eyes on.

And the season has started. New York Fashion Week is now almost halfway through, and we already have a good idea of what the trends will be for Spring Summer 2016. Here are the shows, the clothes and the designers to have your eye on:

Sachin & Babi: One of the standout shows of the day one belonged to husband and wife duo Sachin and Babi Ahulwalia (Babi is the sister of Indian designer Ranna Gill.) Sachin and Babi started their New York-based embroidery house in the 1990s. Six years ago, they launched their own label, Sachin & Babi, mixing the best of the East with the West.


Sachin & Babi Spring/Summer 2016 was all about separates that could be mix and matched but the real bonus was that they kept retail prices under US$1,000. Catering to the social media savvy girl, repeating clothes has become a big no-no thanks to Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, hence the need for being price friendly.


Very romantic, Sachin & Babi believe that Spring 2016 is all about lace, off shoulders and floral inspired prints. This presentation points to a new softer direction that fashion is taking. And even if you are looking at splurging on designer clothes, this is a good style to start adopting in your wardrobe. Sachin & Babi retail out of some the region's best-known specialty stores including Etoile and Galleries Lafayette.

Givenchy: This show has so far been the most talked about show of the week. Held on 9/11, the show paid homage to the city. It was first time this high fashion Parisian house has shown in New York, and the venue was chosen as Givenchy just opened a Madison Avenue flagship. It had a star studded front row with Uma Thurman and Julia Roberts all there to cheer on Givenchy's creative director Richardo Tisci. But it was Tisci's designs that were the stars on the show.


Face jewellery, a concept that Tisci debuted at his last fashion week presentation translated into face masks; he made the drama of couture translate to ready to wear. It was romantic yet dark. Lace details, ribbons and chiffon gave a gentle feel, yet there was that trademark severity that Tisci manages to bring into every collection. Be it with eerie bejeweled face masks, a use of black and his formidable tailoring, he ensured a feel of edgy. With Givenchy saying that it also plans to extend its footprint in the Middle East, let's hope the fashion house follows in Chanel's footstep and hosts a show in this city too.


Alexander Wang: This show marked the designer's decade in the business. He has been fashion's darling since the moment he showed his first collection, thanks to the way he combines a feel of sport luxe with clean minimalism. He makes clothes that fit real women, which is why so many celebrities love his designs.

So his show was packed with celebrities Nicki Minaj, Kayne West and Lady Gaga were all in the front row. Fringes, denims, bomber jackets, mesh -- he stayed with the street style he is known for. This was an important show, as a few months ago he gave up the creative reins at Balenciaga to concentrate on his own label. And he proved that his label would always be one to watch out for.

It is no wonder that concept stores such as S*uce and Boutique 1 dedicate many racks to this designer. His pajama pants are simply a must-have for Spring 2016.
Lady Gaga was among the audience for Alexander Wang


Joseph Altuzarra: He went for more relaxed look, using fabrics that have an easy feel such as linen and cotton. It was a non-fussy look, and have a feel of folklore that drew on his Spanish roots. Fortuny style pleats met rustic embroideries. The designer, who is just 32 years old, showed that he knew how to make couture details commercial. It was a new take on the peasant girl look, something fashion has been embracing for a few seasons now.

Easy jackets (the jacket is looking the new silhouette du jour for Spring 2016), flowing calf length dresses and vegetable dyes ensured this collection had a very organic feel. It was very much for the girl who likes to keep things simple yet elegant. Be ready to see his label enter more stores in the UAE.