Hilfiger transforms runway into Caribbean escape during NYFW

Tommy Hilfiger, the US fashion giant who heads a multi-billion dollar global empire, dominated the New York runway on Monday, transforming his catwalk into a Caribbean getaway.

The master of mise-en-scene, whose sets are among the most elaborate of the twice-a-year style-fests that are New York fashion week, transformed a Manhattan warehouse into a Caribbean escape.

The Tommy Hilfiger woman "is youthful, she is fun, she is one who loves life," the designer told AFP backstage. Hilfiger, who owns a house on the ultra-exclusive island of Mustique, said the theme of his spring/summer 2016 collection was "island life."

The catwalk, fashioned into a wooden walkway, encircled a lake where a boat was moored against a sandy island. There was a wooden beach bar complete with straw roof, table and stools, and sand around the catwalk.

The backdrop was finished with palm trees and a hazy pink sunset, with little lights strung in the beach bar to give the sense of a beautiful, hot day about to transition into a fun-filled night.

The clothes were a riot of color and stripes: short dresses with full, bouncy skirts edged with red, yellow and white hems. Cloche-style stripy knitted hats were ubiquitous in bold colors, pink, purples and reds. Hilfiger said hand crochet, Caribbean tropical prints and loose flowing fabrics played a strong role in the collection.

There were colorful, knitted string bikinis, a crochet shrug, sundresses and long maxi dresses in a variety of vertical and horizontal colored stripes, with full skirts and blocks of color.

It was a happy, fun look. There were multi-colored Caribbean-style prints fashioned into jumpsuits, pants and blouses. There was also a nod to sportswear with sexy string vests and tracksuits. Instead of making a final lap on the catwalk, the beachwear models splashed through the water, frolicking and waving their arms.

Hilfiger then emerged in a navy blazer, waving to the crowd, blowing kisses and flashing the peace sign. The clothes are "beachy, for vacations, for visiting the island, the Caribbean tropical print, loose flowing fabric," he said.

Psychedelic Scott

Enfant terrible and Miley Cyrus friend, Jeremy Scott, may be a divisive figure in fashion but avid fans went wild for his Monday show with celebrities Rita Ora and Perez Hilton front row.

Scott stuck to his beloved palette of neon pink, yellow, orange and green for a seemingly 1960s-inspired collection in clashing psychedelic colors, stripes, spots, cartoon prints and playful accessories.

His models wore luxuriant, 1960s wigs with impressive back combs and curls bouncing provocatively on their shoulders as they powered down the runway in the flirty, pop-art collection.

The show began with Rubik's-cube-looking cropped top and miniskirts, and the same fashioned into a tunic dress in orange and pink. The 1960s theme was continued in the swinging tunic dresses slashed to the thigh.

Always one for mixed colors, he paired hot pink with green sequins and cartoon faces, complete with big teeth, adorned dresses, skirts and tops. Another pop motif was revolvers, in different shades of neon, splattered on a dress, and on matching shirt and pants for men.

There was also a big emphasis on swimwear: budgie smugglers (briefs) for men and bikinis for women. Scott also presented modern chain-mail made from colored discs, and draped over a bikini in the look of a clanking grass-skirt.

He also got cheers for his fun accessories -- oversized, chunky bangles, wide plastic-rimmed sunglasses, enormous earrings and handbags made to look like old-fashioned TV sets. (Brigitte Dusseau, AFP)