Sexy, sophisticated, and a little subversive: Jason Wu's Fall 2013 collection delivered on the designer's potential as a great American designer. Fans from Michelle Obama to Diane Kruger will have plenty of pieces to love in this mostly black and white collection, filled with sharp coats and crisp white collared dresses with plenty of lace and chiffon for nighttime. Will Wu's next wow moment come on the Oscar's red carpet? We wouldn't be at all surprised.
Hot on the heels of dressing Michelle Obama for the Inaugural Ball, Jason Wu sent out an utterly sophisticated Fall 2013 collection that spoke directly to powerful, grown-up women. With a strict color palette of black, white, bright red, and deep violet, Wu went deep into tailoring with outstanding outerwear that included sexy, structured lace trench coats. There was more than a hint of classic YSL in the narrow black pantsuits with stiff white collared blouses that hinted at Le Smoking, while leather-edged black fur boleros nodded ever so to the chubby. The collection was as sophisticated as the crowd at the Park Avenue venue, with perfectly coiffed actress Jaime King perched front row.
Every year, the Jason Wu runway is a playground for beauty lovers. While some designers attempt to wow you with extreme hair and makeup, his vision is always attainable for the average woman. That's probably why he is such a favorite in the White House, too. The designer just showed this morning at New York Fashion Week, but before we take you backstage with our upcoming video recap, take a glimpse back at the best beauty looks from his past runways.
Becoming a New York Fashion Week pro means having a working knowledge of the designers that make it happen. Today, we're taking a closer look at one of our favorites, Jason Wu. The wunderkind designer never fails to impress with ladylike silhouettes and trendsetting pieces, which is exactly why we want to get to know Mr. Wu a little better before his Fall 2013 show.
Taipei-born designer Jason Wu has quite an eclectic background. He started out as a freelance doll clothing designer, but quickly made a name for himself with real girls in the fashion world with his luxe, superfeminine sportswear wares. Jason's easy, glamorous designs are a hit among stylish stars like Diane Kruger, Blake Lively, and Natalie Portman — not to mention First Lady Michelle Obama, whom he dressed for both the inaugural ball in 2008 and 2013. Each of Jason Wu's collections are impeccably crafted, blending classic haute couture techniques with a modern, sophisticated sensibility. Take a look back at Jason Wu's most notable runway moments now.
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Top photo: Courtesy of Lane Crawford; Bottom photo: Courtesy of Barneys New York
Michelle Obama isn't the only one getting her fill of Jason Wu: Lancôme announced that it'll be working with the designer on a makeup collection come Fall. "What was so intriguing about partnering with Lancôme is the notion that the brand doesn't impose a model of beauty but rather invites women to embrace themselves," Wu told WWD. "This is the embodiment of a truly modern, sexy and confident woman, much like the women I design for." We expect to get a glimpse of Wu's vision (and possibly products) for the line at his Fall 2013 showing at New York Fashion Week. However, it's sure to exude a feminine and bold palette.
Prior to this collaboration, Jason Wu has dabbled in beauty with a candle for Nest Fragrances and a line of polishes for CND. As for Lancôme, the beauty brand has already inked deals with other fashion bigwigs, including Lanvin's Alber Elbaz and handbag-maker Olympia Le-Tan. This year is already shaping up to be filled with haute collaborations.
If there's one thing we've learned tonight, it's that 2013 might just be the year the tried-and-true black dress gets redesigned. We're talking about dresses that upped the style, drama, and sex appeal of a timeless red-carpet favorite. Naomi Watts, Jaime King, and Jennifer Lawrence all stepped onto the Critics' Choice Awards red carpet, showing us designers' new takes on black gowns featuring elements of shine, sheer cutouts, and soft draping. Naomi went minimal in Emilio Pucci, showcasing a bold sheer cutout, while both Jennifer and Jaime opted for dresses cinched at the waist. Jennifer's Prabal Gurung gown amped up the drama with gorgeous draping and leather detailing, while Jaime's Jason Wu number channeled Old Hollywood with its shimmering fabric. All three stopped us in our tracks, but which star do you think updated black the best?
Vote in all of our Critics' Choice Awards polls here!
All the bits fit to print here, in our daily news roundup.
The wait is (mostly) over: Jason Wu's more affordable exploration of his design aesthetic — namely, his Miss Wu for Nordstrom collection — is now online and available for preorder. Along with our complete lookbook inside, you can see exactly what Wu's self-described "more downtown, more relaxed attitude" is made of. While Wu's namesake collection caters to a more sophisticated trendsetter, who straddles the line between ladylike and subversive, this youthful — but still impeccably chic — lineup is its younger sister, a girlier representation with a mod-era feel. To celebrate the capsule's debut online, we've already picked out our favorite pieces right here. From a retro geometric-print shiftdress and a leather circle skirt to a cashmere lace sweater and a rich olive-hued trench coat, these pieces are bound to be Spring-transitional staples. As for the price range, it ranges from $195 for a necktie blouse to $795 for a leather biker jacket. Keep clicking for our shopping picks and the full Miss Wu for Nordstrom lookbook now.
— Additional reporting by Marisa Tom and Hannah Weil
A look back at all the Pre-Fall 2013 collections we've seen so far.
