Although the Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2014 collection reverted to a tried-and-true theme—mixing menswear with womenswear styles—the results were simple, strong and still managed to bring some new twists to New York Fashion Week.
Separates were a key part of this collection, since Minkoff noted that "it's about taking menswear-inspired silhouettes and translating them into feminine colors and silhouettes." One of the styles that embodies some of these contrasts best were the blazers, Oxford or otherwise, paired with flirty flowing dresses beneath.
Minkoff also sent a ton of different bags down the runway, including one quilted blue belt bag, but hopefully this means fanny packs won’t be making a comeback unless they always look this good.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Gender-fluid Fashion
- Designers are blending traditionally masculine silhouettes and fabrics with feminine colors and designs, creating a gender-fluid aesthetic.
- Mix-and-match Separates
- The trend of pairings items that don't conventionally go together, like blazers and flowing dresses, is increasing in popularity.
- Fashionable Functionality
- Fashion is becoming more practical, with the inclusion of belt bags and other functional accessories on the runway.
Where This Applies
- Fashion
- There is an opportunity for fashion brands to cater to a growing gender-fluid consumer base by creating unisex or gender-neutral clothing options.
- Retail
- Retailers can capitalize on the mix-and-match trend by encouraging customers to experiment with unconventional pairings and offering styling advice.
- Accessories
- There is a rising demand for fashionable, yet practical accessories like belt bags, signaling a new area for innovation and design within the accessories industry.
