Off the Runway

Everyone knows that during Fashion Week (wherever it is in the world)...what is being worn OFF the runways is as interesting as what’s being shown on the runways. Actually, many times it’s more interesting but that’s another story. Let me just say that while the winter was mild up until now, Monday, the first day of shows, was met with single digit temps….and nasty winds. So needless to say, getting through the day and looking good is a bit challenging. Many show goers found the key: fur fur and more fur. And the place the fur looks best is on top- on the head! The Big Fur Hat (bigger is better) is the hands down accessory du jour at the shows. Though Vogue’s Candy Pratts Price was spotted wearing pale fox après ski boots and against her all black outfit, couldn’t have looked better.

But getting back to fur hats…I spotted them on men and women alike (yes of course, Andre Leon Talley had one of the most visible fur hats around); there are fur trapper hats, mod fur hats, fur hats with earflaps, and brimmed fur hats. There are furs of every variety from fox and muskrat to mink. One can get away with wearing a thin non fur coat as long as one’s head is covered in fur. And the fact that this has also been mirrored on the runways today, makes it even more ‘au courant’.

And talking about the cold….as I previously mentioned, nothing heats things up quite like red. And red coats (on both men and women) are all around proving that nothing stands out in a crowd quite like red. On men and women. There are red cloth coats in every length; red down coats; red fur coats. One show- goer even turned up in a red fur coat and red fur hat (and I think she even had red hair!).

– Marilyn Kirschner