New york Fashion Week Day 7: Flower power to the fore

From 3-D daisies at Michael Kors to padded egypt baby tulips at Bibhu Mohapatra and Betsey Johnson’s signature ditsy flowers, on the seventh day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week the runways were in flower. Mohapatra showed his most effective collection yet with delicate prom dresses and elegant embelleshment. Highlights included a flower print strapless mixture clothe themselves in sage with an inside-out tulip skirt and pleated chiffon gown in the same print but in onyx and blush.

Playing with sheer and fine mesh details in the bodice or adding a thigh-high splice, Mohapatra toughened up even the nicest bouquets. Kors was clean and simple, a summer romance where tailored trousers and jackets balanced flowy dresses and shorts. The textures were diverse — white linen, hemp raffia, cashmere, soft denin chambray and even some fox pelt made appearances. The sod green hand-embroidered bikini covered in daisies is a must-have. Butterflies fluttered to the front at Marchesa. Not only were the models wearing butterfly tattoos (don’t worry, we were holding temporary) and signature Marchesa roses by Scott Campbell, but organza petals adorned many of the gowns. Sheer laces layered over lingerielike pieces resulting in boudoir-inspired evening looks.

 

PHOTOS: NEW YORK FASHION WEEK SPRING 2014: DAY SEVEN Fashion’s favorite granny Johnson put on a show as only she could. There were clothes — a four-part collection she called “BJ One A Day” composed of ditsy florals, spangly sequins, and leopard and black with studs and chains — but it was Johnson herself, who cartwheeled down the runway with granddaughter Layla, who borrowed the show. The pink-haired models — with frosted lips — did their utmost to keep up.

 The designer even commemorated the 9/11 wedding with rainbow underwear-clad models taking their final walks waving American flags to the tune of “New York, New york. ” Milly designer Michelle Smith’s uptown girl is working her way the downtown area, maybe even to Brooklyn, complete with a wardrobe of sexy open-knit honeycomb dresses and skirts, bralette tops, microshorts and lots of skin. Even a tropical print got rough-and-tumble treatment with a fitted belly-baring top and tight midiskirt. PHOTOS: NAEEM KHAN SPRING 2014 Anna Sui once again rolled out the designs — this time full of exploding flowers. Crochet lace vests and jackets were loose and relaxed and colors were saturated teal, navy, mauve, lavender and indigo.