The jumpsuit: a trend with legs (and arms)

proenza schouler SS09/style.com

Well there are three days to go of the world’s biggest, messiest and most celeb-infested fashion week. And of the myriad trends to emerge from its runways, one sartorial note seems to be ringing particularly loud and clear: the jumpsuit.

Yep, they’ve been all over New York Fashion Week's runways, seemingly in every second show.

Just some examples include the Marc by Marc Jacobs crumpled silk, cropped-leg version; DKNY’s utilitarian-look loose silk jumpsuit and a glossy black suit over at our own Toni Maticevski.


marc by marc jacobs SS09/wwd

The many other brands to touch on the trend include BCBG Max Azria, Derek Lam, Thakoon, Matthew Williamson, Twinkle and of course not forgetting, the '80s-nosed jumpsuit overload over at Proenza Schouler.


bcbg max azria SS09/style.com

So omnipresent has the garment been, even queen of clicks, net-a-porter.com founder – and for this season Style.com animated commentator – Natalie Massenet, devoted one entire online report to the trend.

Massenet noted that in these challenging economic times, the jumpsuit represents a great deal for consumers, because it is in fact two garments for the price of one: trousers and a shirt.

But the jumpsuit wasn't just on the runway this week. It was also in the front row.

A case in point, Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, who wore a green halterneck version to the Miss Sixty show:


new york magazine

Evidently Lively is an early adopter.

A little to early for the liking of the Fug Girls however, who dedicated an entire snippet of their New York magazine show coverage to what they felt was a unitard misadventure on Lively's part.

Titled, simply, Blake Lively Wears Tragic Jumpsuit to Miss Sixty, the Fug-ettes slagged Lively off for having the temerity to rock up to the show:

“sporting a seriously, intensely misguided green jumpsuit. If she can’t pull it off, the rest of us haven’t got a chance in hell”.

For those game enough – and who don’t care to pay net-a-porter.com etc prices – frockwriter has a practical solution.

Head to your nearest army disposal/surplus store and pick up a grassroots flight suit. Like this version:


robinson heli

I recall spotting Italian model Mariacarla Boscano in a genuine flight suit one day backstage in Milan at the FW0607 shows. It was her own gear, teamed with a simple pair of ballerina flats. She looked sensational.

Granted, it was in the middle of a European winter and Boscano would look sensational wearing nothing but a Marc Jacobs shopping bag (unlike Victoria Beckham).

But you, know, by the time it's hit the mainstream it'll be winter anyway.