Photos by Matthew Passiglia
Attending the Tommy Hilfiger A/W15 runway show was nothing short of magical. Held at the Park Avenue Armory, a sprawling 4-acre gothic revival building opened in 1880, the collection was an American love story inspired by Ali MacGraw. Using silhouettes from the late 60’s and early 70’s, the looks featured American sportswear infused with a vibrant game day spirit.
From the moment I stepped through the enormous vaulted wooden doors onto the football field, I knew Tommy Hilfiger was going to put on a good game. Near life sized goal posts marked the beginning and end of the runway. Models emerged from a locker room lined with football helmets and strutted down the 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50-yard lines, changing course in the end zone. Even the music, the best of Beyoncé and Diddy from the early aughts, had everyone dancing in their seats as though we were at some fantastic pep rally.
Outerwear was the cornerstone of the A/W15 collection. Duffle and pea coats, stadium and coaches jackets, and capes all made an appearance in Toscana shearling, alpaca, felted mohair and contrasting leather and wool. I loved the faux fur and melton wool bomber jacket, also shown in a longer, kickoff jacket with navy pockets and a brushed gold belt. Tommy also showed us that velvet is making a comeback; my favorites were the pieced skirts and dresses accented with silk chiffon sleeves. Even his accessories highlighted the sporty elegance that he is known for. Models wore long scholar scarves, wedge heeled football boots and helmet motifs showed up on enamel jewelry, charms and handbags.
In addition to the clothes, it was amazing to see who was in attendance. Gigi Hadid, Jourdan Dunn and Hanne Gaby Odiele walked in the show and were (unsurprisingly) flawless. Rita Ora was the guest of honor, seated next to Richard Hilfiger, Tommy’s son. Fashion elite, Rachel Zoe, Nick Wooster and Caroline De Maigret all looked fabulous while remaining relatively low key. Even my favorite veteran fashion bloggers were all seated directly in front of me, albeit several rows ahead. But by far, the holy grail sighting was Bill Cunningham. The perfect end to a fantastic show.