Draped Velvets F/W 08.09

[Crying Diamonds]

(All photographs used in montage from Vogue)

 

[John_M.]

Velvet can be a very seductive, yet smooth fabric. I could remember back in 1997 or so when a girl in my 9th Grade Science class was wearing velvet jeans. I love drapey, fluid fashion with ladies. I'm slowly becoming more fond of Oscar de la Renta and his designs. I always thought swoop-neck tops looked great. And with the proper look to compliment the swoop-neck top, can be a very revealing, yet stylish look. I therefore also like the Marc Jacobs look. Amazing stuff.

 

[shirleebee]

I noticed the prevalence of velvet right away on the NYC runways, too. I like it in small doses - I have a pair of black velvet pants that I love. They just scream luxe without trying too hard.

 

[Spike413]

My only problem with velvet is that silk velvet can be extremely overpowering to the point of tacky if it's shiny enough. I think it all depends on how much drape is involved, how deep the pile is, the color, the shape....it can all work to make the dress look great or cheap.

I think the best look is the Donna Karan, it gives the texture and sheen of velvet but it's not too much. The Oscar is pretty as well, since it's very dark and you only get those few glimpses of the true color where the light hits it....but it could just be that the photo captured it really well and it's more intense in person.

The Ralph Lauren, well really all of the velvet dresses in the RL collection bothered me to no end because I truly couldn't tell if it was just a really bad looking silk velvet or if it was velour.

 

[ChrissyM]

velvet can definitely be tough to wear and i would agree it's easier to wear in small doses..

i think the darker colors also work better (blks, navys)...
the purple at oscar de la renta also works..
i like way that velvet can sort of catch light and the way it moves can also be quite beautiful...

i just remember velvet turtlenecks from The Gap that I had years and years ago (elementary or middle school?) and that brings back some not so good memories..
i think i sort of associate it with that awkward stage in life where every kid is just awkward

 

[ChrissyM]

ralph lauren

donna karan

(i can't tell if the second dress is velvet but it looks like the gloves are)

ports 1961

style.com

 

[ChrissyM]

philosophy

style.com

 

[MulletProof]

Donna Karan's is my favorite so far. I love velvet but golden velvet.... that's something else. probably because I've never owned anything in that colour and material.

I noticed Velvet was pretty much all over in Menswear shows. not surprised it reached womenswear collections.

 

[saann]

I think this looks great on the runway, but in real life this can look a bit too costume

 

[Crying Diamonds]

I thought the velvets at Donna and Oscar were the best - Donna's matching neatly with that gorgeous 20's feel she has in those dresses and Oscars because it's so deep and alluring.
Adore those Philosophy velvets.
Thought the Marc Jacobs velvet/velour/whatever it was was pretty vile actually, in the words of Gok Wan: "It looks... inexpensive."

 

[ChrissyM]

the marc jacobs velvet reminds me of that fabric you see on ice skating costumes

like it's so synthetic that if the person lit a cigarette or stood next to a candle they would burst into flames
i don't think that light color helps the situation

 

[Inaya]

I guess I just don't like velvet. I echo Chrissy's statement of it bringing back bad childhood fashion mishaps. Try as I might to appreciate it getting a fresh update in recent shows, I just still think it looks tacky.

 

[ChrissyM]

i really like the ports 1961 look and the way donna karan used velvet..
i just don't know if i could ever see myself wearing it..

i also feel like there can be something very Golden Girls about velvet..

i probably need to shake these associations that i've got with it

 

[Inaya]

^ exactly. The bad associations for me are a combo of Paulie Walnuts tracksuit + horrible Easter dresses I wore as a kid.

I don't mean to sound like a downer, I just realized I might be coming off that way I definitely think the problem lays in what I associate it with in general.

For instance, I really like the effect the draping and tucking gives it at Donna Karan... but then again it doesn't scream velvet like the others do. I guess the shine has a lot to do with it as well.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

The bad associations for me are a combo of Paulie Walnuts tracksuit

velvet tracksuits have to be the worst invention the world has seen since Jackie Stallone's face.

 

[ChrissyM]

there was quite a bit of velvet at alberta ferretti in milan..
but the pics on style.com look terrible quality-wise

 

[Crying Diamonds]

I've been making a new montage of all of the velvets from many of the collections and velvet slacks are going to be a biiigg trend this winter

 

[ChrissyM]

^i agree..
i don't know how i feel about the velvet slacks (loose and flowy like at carolina herrera and giorgio armani)..

i think they look classy but in my mind it is definitely a look for older women..

 

[ChrissyM]

giorgio armani

style.com

 

[Crying Diamonds]

Mod, I totally know what you mean, I think it comes down to personal taste at the end of the day.
Her is an updated montage of all of the major shows encorportating velvet up to today: