Shoe blog

StudyNY at NYFW: It’s All About the Men’s Shoes

StudyNY really brought it this week. This collection had a very cool color scheme of indigo blue, a warm tan, various off-white shades and tawny burnt sienna that bordered on orange on one dress (and in that same model’s hair!). The fabrics and textures were very touchable, from soft and silky jackets to warm and nubbly knits.

There is also such skill in her cuts. The jackets, the skirts, the dresses. Everything looks casually effortless but so put together and polished. The prints are unique. This is someone who understands patterns and how to combine them in interesting geometrical juxtapositions.

I particularly loved her plaid-redone shirt, which had a trapeze shape and I can just picture myself wearing both to meet an editor and on the weekend, footloose and fancy-free walking around Williamsburg! Rare that things work in both situations. 

Overall, St. James presented herself as a designer who not only has a conscious ecological theme, but makes it look effortless. At no time did I think, this is an ecocollection. And yet, one of the best parts about Tara St. James and her line StudyNY is how she follows through on her ecobeliefs. Everything in her giftbag for attendees was adorably school-themed or ecological, from supercute bright Ecosystem notebooks to Weleda Wild Rose night cream to the funky, unique, gorgeous stylings of recycled jewelry by DLC Brooklyn.

StudyNY also works with the CPALI silk project, where they are “striving to capitalize on the ephemeral creations of high fashion to generate the funds and attention that can preserve nature by benefiting people at the base of the pyramid.” Donate to CPALI here.

Make the jump below to see the rest of the StudyNY photos, including fab women’s saddle oxford boots. Because in case you haven’t noticed, for hip young things, it’s all about men’s boots this year. And for those of you who won’t jump, shop for StudyNY at KaightShop and Not Just a Label. I’ll let you know if they let me know where you can buy more!

First off, a shot of the presentation. Models walked down a runway toward a teacher’s desk, where they placed an apple on it. StudyNY may be a play on the idea that fashion is a process of learning, and that careful attention must be paid, or that its clothes are youthful and girlish, relaxed. Either way, I loved the setup. So playful and fun, unlike other very uptight shows I’ve attended.

The shoes, as I said, were a delight. I’ve been looking for menswear boots, but was thinking more along the combat boot lines for a while, that I could wear like a slouchy, rebellious teenager who couldn’t be bothered to lace them up. Something along the lines of what the models were wearing during the test run, seen below.

 Now I think I need a pair of these smart oxford saddle boots as well. Warm, understated color combos as well, which St. James seems to go for.

Love the men’s socks too! Tara just let me know that they’re Bass shoes indeed. They are the Nikki, and are available for $59.95 at 6pm.com (thanks for the tip, Inky!). Tara, thanks so much for having us. We look forward to many more years of supercool, well-crafted clothes from you that look effortless.