NYFW – Jenny Packham A/W 2013 collection

British designer Jenny Packham dazzled the runway with her glamorous flowing gowns and ladylike trouser combinations. Her A/W 2013 collection was inspired by the great intellectual salons of 17^th-century Paris, where noble and cultured women gathered to discuss the arts, the philosophy of Voltaire and Descartes and to produce and shape the literature of their time.  These salonnières were admired and respected for their sharp wit and good taste. The collection was a tribute to the colourful women of their time, with a collection fit for a very noble woman. 

The collection was filled with shades of midnight blue, scarlet reds and cinnamon hues with pops of oxblood and an explosion of glitter and shine. Models sported a no-fuss low ponytail tied with a ribbon bow, as the show opened with a stunning display of long silky gowns elevating the word evening gown to a new level. Each piece had a surprising edge, whether it was the sheer overlay dripping in Swarovski crystals or the sparkly silver collars covered in lustrous opals. Some looks had matching sparkly wrap coats over their glamorous gowns.  Not only does Jenny Packham do the gown perfectly, but she also sent down a pair of black cropped trousers with a matching bustier covered in perfectly placed Swarovski crystals climbing down the sides of the garment. 

Although the entire collection left us wishing we had the Oscars to attend just so we could have an excuse to wear a Jenny Packham design, there were two looks that collectively stunned the crowd. The knee-length sparkly scarlet red dress with a nude mesh inset was so stunning it put Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz’s ruby shoes to shame. We also heard a collective gasp from the crowd as the midnight blue long-sleeved, floor-length gown with a slit up to the thigh came down the runway. Jenny has become one of the UK’s most successful and independent fashion brands of our time. Her sophisticated and elegant looks seems to stand the test of time. 

Gillian Horsley