NYFW FW '20 trend edit: Equestrian dressing, white lace frocks and capes

1. Off to the races

Credit: Showbit and Instagram/eskimomodels

1/5

Giddy up, equestrian dressing is riding in first place this FW '20. Gabriela Hearst had an elegant collection of fringed ponchos in saturated fruity shades teamed with riding boots; Tory Burch stole our hearts with an elaborate teal Western-inspired floral patchwork jacket and a pair of burnt orange knee-high boots with ditzy floral embroidery and a little ribbon to cinch the opening; Self-Portrait took the literal route with sharp equestrian caps and a tailored tuxedo-and-shorts one-piece we’re dying to get our hands on.

2. New necklines

Credit: Showbit

2/5

V-cut, square, sweetheart? Move over – there’s a new crop of necklines storming through the gate next fall. At Monse, we saw the irreverent designer reinventing construction codes with plaid looks with asymmetrical collars folded over one side of the shoulder and a matching draped neckpiece. Proenza Schouler had a series of dresses which we’ve already kept bookmarked on our wishlist: silky knee-length dresses hemmed with colour contrasting stripes fall from a chunky gold choker, asymmetrical draping an arm while leaving the shoulders and other arm bare. And finally, Brandon Maxwell kept it simple and elegant with a heritage check printed dress with a foldover panel on what was supposedly a halter neckline.

3. Cape Town glory

Credit: Showbit

3/5

All over the NYFW runways were caped crusaders. From Michael Kors’ many caped styles that range from trench coat-inspired cape blouses to oversized bright orange blankets that wrap around the shoulders to be secured by a brown leather buckle, to Carolina Herrera’s floor-length robe that was almost like a breath of fresh air, we’re almost certain that capes would overtake coats as the outerwear of choice this fall.

4. A chantilly affair

Credit: Showbit

4/5

Imbuing fashion week with a dreamy, ethereal romance, soft delicate swathes of lace were prevalent all through NYFW. Carolina Herrera swept us off our feets with a dainty yet modern show-stopping number: a high neck, diaphanous long-sleeved maxi stamped with flora and fauna prints in white. Ulla Johnson had a lovely frock finished with scalloped dotted lace trimming and a tiered skirt. And though Tom Ford didn’t present in New York, the designer still commandeered presence with a jaw-droppingly stunning see-through skin-tight crochet gown made even more hauntingly beautiful with a veil to match.

5. Maximum protection

Credit: Showbit and Instagram/carolynmurphy

5/5

Balaclavas are back this season with a refined edge. Seen at The Row, Michael Kors and Area, the headgear commonly used for combatting frigid temperatures on ski slopes are once again designer-approved. This time however, instead of the whimsical sporty rendition of balaclavas that took over the fashion world in Fall 2018, the knitted head mask is upgraded with a contemporary upgrade. The Olsen twins at The Row employed their clean and polished aesthetic, accessorising oversized, relaxed tailoring in their usual neutral colour scheme with sleek, tonal knitted balaclavas. Michael Kors teamed a grey cape dress with a chunky knitted number, while Area took it one step further by ditching conventional knits in favour of chains upon chains of crystals wrapping around and dripping from the models’ heads.