Public School’s Meteoric Rise
Designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne debuted their Spring 2016 Public School women’s collection in New York following their recent appointment as the new designers for DKNY. Aside from already having a very sought after men’s line, the New York natives have been proclaimed the new “cool kids of fashion” garnering accolades and awards with every collection. The speed at which Osborne and Chow move in the fashion world might give others whiplash. Their meteoric rise has the duo showing three collections in the space of a month, Public School mens, Public School women’s and now DKNY women’s. DKNY, capitalized on the designers’ rising status when CEO Caroline Brown, and Donna Karan, the brand’s founder, strategically brought on Osborne and Chow as new co-creative directors for the DKNY label.
Unlike other Public School collections, the DKNY influence shined through loud and clear this season. This collection was not the usual urban street style gracing the New York runways in recent days, but in many ways a more grown up collection. Previous shows featured modestly covered models, this one teased with the display of skin. No complaining here—we loved the modern street style mixed with flowing feminine frocks, deep necklines, sheer embroidered tops, and bombers, and a variation of the elongated blazer. The restrained color palette played well together and helped to highlight unique compositions of soft flowing layers resembling the silhouettes of Haider Ackermann. Relaxed minimalist pieces made their own statement as monochromatic ensembles. Any look could have gone directly from the runway to the street.
