The 5 Most “Meh” Outfits of NYFW

Normally, this type of post would have been a Catalog Police feature, but it’s been a crazy few weeks. But no excuses! Let’s just dial back the clock and pretend it’s the good old days — specifically, let’s pretend it’s last week, and that New York Fashion Week has just ended.

Here are 5 outfits from the spring 2016 ready-to-wear collections. They all caught my eye — but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Look 16 in Juicy Couture's Spring RTW 2016 collection
Look 16 in Juicy Couture’s Spring RTW 2016 collection

This outfit is part Rosie the Riveter, part Roseanne Arnold. The covered-up silhouette, coupled with floral embroidery makes this matronly and deeply unflattering. (And don’t think I didn’t notice the Tory Burch rip-off sandals!)

Look 1 from Norma Kamali's Spring 2016 RTW collection.
Look 1 from Norma Kamali’s Spring 2016 RTW collection.

I think the general public takes stripes for granted. “Oh sure, everything goes with stripes. They’re classic!”

Sometimes, even a classic needs to die. This dress looks like a Halloween costume — Beetlejuice, escaped convict, a piano.

Oblina from the 90s Nickelodeon show, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Oblina from the 90s Nickelodeon show, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters

Who really wants to look like Oblina from Nickelodeon?

Next up is a novel take on the ubiquitous olive green jacket.

Look 14 in Greg Lauren's latest 2016 runway show.
Look 14 in Greg Lauren’s latest 2016 runway show.

I understand that Greg Lauren is trying to spice up the boring “olive green jacket” trend, but this coat looks like camping gear that was partially eaten and then barfed back up by a bear.

J. Crew's Look 3 in the Spring RTW presentation
J. Crew’s Look 3 in the Spring RTW presentation

On its own, this plaid seems fine. A little ho-hum, but nothing I’d swear off shopping about.

But then I saw this:

Look 2 in Marc Jacobs' Spring RTW 2016 Show
Look 2 in Marc Jacobs’ Spring RTW 2016 Show

This Marc Jacobs’ outfit included a nearly identical print — although the marching band skirt and Nutcracker shoes are off in their own world.

I wondered where else I had seen the print… and then I remembered: Chinatown.

shopping bag

Not sure how I feel about the most recent collections. The fashion industry’s frenetic pace just reminds me that while the designers are all on the hamster wheel seeking innovation, we’ve seen it all before. Sometimes in inanimate objects.