Want a sneak peek at what's in store on the biggest runways of New York Fashion Week? Well, this season, you don't have to wait for a single model to hit the catwalk. We've rounded up the scene-setting sketches from some of our favorite designers — including Tibi, Monique Lhuillier, BCBG, and Marissa Webb — and got them to reveal the inspiration behind their latest collections. So, what does Fall 2015 have in store? Well, for starters, it looks like the 1970s are here to stay for at least another season.
Read on to see for yourself.
"I am endlessly inspired by the glamorous lives of women in the '60s and '70s. That era had such a wide range of iconic styles that I love to channel. I’m constantly seeking new ways to modernize the classics and reinterpret them for today's woman."
"'70s bohemia, a seminal era of artistic expression and the feminine spirit." – Serge Azria, chief creative officer of Joie
"The complexity of the woman as seen in Tracey Emin's exhibit, The Last Great Adventure is You."
"Collage and jewels." – Donna Karan, designer of DKNY
"The rock-inspired style of Patti Smith and the bohemian culture of New York in the early 1970s."
"Sculptural warmth." — Amy Smilovic, designer of Tibi
"This collection channels the eclectic French girl, Francoise Hardy. She searches Portobello Market and Les Puces de Saint-Ouen for cool Victorian pieces and soft, femme chiffon dresses to style with worn-in military jackets. It forms a perfect harmony between romantic and utilitarian."
"The Fall 2015 collection is inspired by the world of fashion in 1970s Paris as described in the book, The Beautiful Fall. It was a glamorous world of designers, models, photographers, and their creative conspirators that have become enduring style icons."
"The collection is built around a 'chic' that does not take itself seriously." – Felipe Oliveira Baptista, designer of Lacoste
"It's ingenue. The juxtaposition between decorative and functional." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG
"Clean elegant lines inspired by modern architectural shapes." — Laurel Berman, designer of Black Halo
"The fall collection is inspired by mythic arts with a forest theme — the mysteries of the woods as seen through the eyes of illustrators."
"Monochromatic geometry."
"The Fall collection is inspired by the baroque embellishment traditions of the matador combined with the severity and restraint of Modernist architecture – Blood and Sand meets The Fountainhead." — Mark Badgley and James Mischka, designers of Badgley Mischka
"Fall 2015 has a slightly western vibe but in a very modern way!"
"For Fall 2015, I've been channeling my unapologetic muse – the 'posh rebel' – to create a vision of a radiant nouveau girls club, a sisterhood secret society unified around the rallying cry, 'Rebelle Society.'"
"We explored the wonders of nature: flora, fauna, and natural minerals for their formations and rich colors. Structured silhouettes with graphic lines and mixed textures dominate the collection." — Odile Benjamin, creative director at Raoul
"I was very taken by Pina Bausch, a performer and choreographer of modern dance from Germany. She had the ability to both shock and inspire her audience with her work – it was an assault on all expectations. Her pieces being both strange and beautiful was never about alienating the audience, it was always about bringing them closer. Raw, honest, and a bit crude, I wanted to emulate this idea and draw from these emotions."
"Winter as an accessory."
"Esplanade."
"Bianca Jagger and the boys club."
"Yeats and Maud. A story of a worldly poet and an other-worldly muse."
"This collection is about keeping your feet on the ground, hands in the sky, and allowing the force to be with you at all times."
"Rock and roll, nuances of Native American dress, independent women with a sexy edge, Annie Oakley meets '80s supermodels . . . Alexa Ray Joel embodied the spirit of this collection." — Tamara Mellon, one of the designers for the Red Dress Collection
"Reflection." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of Hervé Léger
"My fall 2015 collection plays on the juxtaposition of masculine versus feminine. Strong, structured separates are paired with soft, fluid silhouettes."
"Fall 2015 is all about texture and silhouette. We used fabrics that have unique details for a modern and luxurious feel. The silhouette is elongated and streamlined. Overall, the collection is elegant and feminine with a nod to minimalism from the muted color palette."
"Forest as a metaphor for the city ... where her wardrobe serves as protection against the elements and the urban winter landscape."
"The deep, dark, and mysterious creatures from the Congo jungle in the Central African Republic were my main source of inspiration. I was drawn to the home of the silverback gorilla along with other exotic and exquisite creatures. Inspired by plant life and the jungle itself are graphic oversized palm printed taffetas and bright citrus embroideries, and petal appliques from the African tulip tree and Heliconia plant are a vivid splash of color that brings a dark collection to life."
"On the move." — Marissa Webb, creative director at Banana Republic
"My collection is inspired by the jet-setting, glamorous women of the 1970s."
"Refined, natural elegance."
"I looked to the diversity within culinary arts as inspiration. Similar to a gourmet rendezvous, this collection blends together the perfect balance of flavor, spice and colors – ingredients for the perfect dish. I was inspired by different antique and international recipe books collected throughout the years and also kitchen decor elements such as table settings and chef's apparel. Illustrations, fonts, and different languages seen within these books helped formulate the silhouettes and color palettes for the collections, while classic table linens such as plaid and gingham are patterns seen throughout key pieces." – Alejandra Alonso, designer of A Moi
"The collection is inspired by the expansive American wilderness. This season, I was imagining the lush abundance – enormous trees, plants, wildlife, mushrooms, moss and toadstools." – Giovanna Randall, designer of Honor
"A feminine take on a military influence." — Katharine Polk, designer of Houghton
"The spirit of flight."
"I explored the intersection between workwear and sportswear. I used more volume and less trim and detail to allow for the function elements and technical fabrics to shine through." — Michael Maccari, creative director at Perry Ellis
"Revisiting evening wear, offering a fresh approach for today's women."