Denim on the Runway: NY Fashion Week S/S 2011: Diesel Black Gold

Diesel held the runway show for luxury collection Diesel Black Gold at Pier 92 this season located on the West Side Highway. It was a nice change of venue as there wasn't the mass confusion at the door like there was during their Fall show. On the contrary, the large elevators brought up guests in reasonably sized groups which allowed for much more organized crowd control and a less harassed staff.

Inside the venue, the elevated runway was set up like a long stage with the audience sitting only six rows deep down the length of it. Dark curtains lined the opposite side of it and the effect was somewhat cavernous. The show started with a bang, literally, as a sullen faced model walked the runway while each curtain section fell down in her wake revealing a dazzlingly bright afternoon sun. At first the glare made it difficult to view the collection and the models looked like silhouettes, but as most people quickly realized, sunglasses were the remedy.

The collection was a profusion of desert colors like rusts, dusty pinks, tans and grays. Creative Director Sophia Kokosalaki looked to the West Coast arts and crafts scene for inspiration. This was evident in intricately pieced together looks in leather dresses and skirts that reminded me of autumn foliage as well as open-constructed, flowy, knit dresses. The arts and crafts looks were mixed together with desert elements like heavily distressed leathers and suedes with a desert motif or two painted on jackets and accessories. A contrasting but complimentary feature was the over-teased hair of the models which was sometimes pulled into a teased pompadour like rockabilly meets feral girl.