Recession-ready designs

Tough economic times have sparked a new ingenuity and artistry on runways at New York Fashion Week—“much of it directed at creating looks that are actually attuned to what people want,” reports the Wall Street Journal in its mid-week roundup. Stand-outs included a “vivid and optimistic” collection from Matthew Williamson, Thakoon’s “Michelle Obama-ready suits” and clothing from Halston “that can be worn by real women who lack a six-foot, pin-thin body.” Even Justin Timberlake, who showed his William Rast denimwear line, is down with the new practical aesthetic: "We should give value for money," he says.

Wall Street Journal