For fall, Carmen Marc Valvo has a lot of school spirit. The affable designer, a Texas favorite, is offering up a collection based on "memories of cheering stadium bleachers, mean-spirited teachers and Sunday school preachers," according to his program notes at New York Fashion Week.
His massive collection — he showed a whopping 51 looks — has a naughty schoolgirl and schoolboy vibe as models in tousled hair and thick glasses walked the runway in persimmon and black-and-white tartan blazers, embroidered white shirts, and skinny ties to the Jamie Cullum song "Take Me Out (Of Myself)."
For women, looks range from a plaid skirt and blouse with a boyfriend cardigan in leather and cashmere to crop trouser and black cardigan with a sequin tweed stadium coat and matching handbag. For evening, the tartan theme continues in a more adult version, with frothy silk chiffon plaid pleated gowns, as well as gowns in bold red or black-and-red windowpane patterns.
Many of the looks are accented with luxurious mink coats — some in kicky plaid patterns and matching scarves — from Valvo's fur collection.
Valvo only started showing menswear recently with a small spring collection. For fall, he has expanded the offerings, with plaid jackets, mink cardigans, cashmere paperboy pants with suspenders and ombre shirts.
A stellar celebrity front row crowd included Katie Couric, who snapped photos with her cellphone, and hubby John Molner; Vanessa Williams; Tim Gunn; and Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their toddler Carmen.
Carmen Marc Valvo double face and silk chiffon illusion plaid pleated gown.
