Charlotte Ronson Fall 2009 – New York Fashion Week

The opening day of the Fall 2009 collections at Bryant Park saw the latest show by young designer Charlotte Ronson, which played to an extremely packed house. It should be noted that Ms. Ronson’s family has an impressive creative pedigree. Her brother Mark is a successful Grammy-winning producer and DJ who has worked with such acts as Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. Her twin sister Samantha is a well-known club DJ who worked the sound boards at this show, providing the soundtrack of vintage American Songbook tunes that accompanied the speeding runway models. Of course, Samantha is even more well-known as the companion of one Lindsay Lohan, who also attended the show, to the great satisfaction of New York’s tabloid mavens. Adding to the musical lineage is the fact that Ronson’s stepfather happens to be Mick Jones of the classic-rock band Foreigner.

As far as the clothes went, there was a definite theme: a rather severe look dominated by black leather, chains and spiked heels – a sort of combination military/biker/dominatrix motif which broke sharply from her previous collections, which were far more demure in temperament while still retaining the youthful edge that gained her recognition in the past. As such, it created an odd dissonance with other elements of the show, most notably the soundtrack, which consisted of such familiar, even over-familiar chestnuts as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

The show featured 40 pieces, which perhaps was the reason the models went by so quickly in order to get everything in within the allotted time. Black and grey were the dominant colors, with blue and plaid colors breaking up the somewhat monotonous and uniform-like look of most of the outfits on display. The retro soundtrack and dark colors were perhaps Ronson’s not-so-subtle commentary on the current state of the economy, which was as much apparent under the Bryant Park tents as anywhere else.

Photo Gallery

photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week