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Tommy Hilfiger's 'Sexier, More Feminine' New Tack
By Eri Kim
Photos by Jennifer Graylock-FWD
Apr 5, 2002/ FWD/ --- Today at his showroom, Tommy Hilfiger took a departure from the
all-American casual looks he's known for, going for a more grownup look for fall 2002.
"The fit and the lines are sexier and more feminine this season," Hilfiger said backstage
before the small runway show.
"We dressed it up and mixed it for a more interesting look."
The king of red, white and blue added that his collection was mainly based on the idea
of "winter white" occasionally mixed with black and, yes, red and blue.
Karolina Kurkova opened the show in a '60s-inspired A-line felted wool dress in bone, falling
above the knee, worn with black rider boots and knee-high socks.
Bridget Hall followed in a fitted white fur vest, a white silk turtleneck and a bone felted
wool skirt.
Sticking to a clean and narrow line worked for Hilfiger as the cuts gave basic items a
decidedly modern feel.
Biker pants came with a broad waistband and zippers or slits at the ankles, and for evening
there were tuxedo-style flannel pants.
Tomboy Kristina Chrastekova looked comfortable in a slim ski jacket worn over a black fur
vest and tight silk satin pants zipped open at the sides, and the bomber jacket paired with
a black leather kilt mini that Belgian punk-rock princess Anouck Lepere came strolling out
in looked like something the poser might actually wear.
And Amanda Moore's double-faced wool coat in black with white lapels had a chic European
feel to it.
Next came more traditional looks like a brown suede pant and a cropped, belted wool jacket
on Tommy girl Frankie Rayder and an olive and red windowpane blazer paired with a distressed
leather cargo skirt worn by Bridget Hall.
There were also corduroy and tweed pants, plenty of cable knits - all cut close to the body
to make it flattering.
And what would a Tommy collection be without some red, white and blue? So Hilfiger presented
a blue-red version of the double-faced wool coat and a red, white and blue plaid boucle coat
and combined a red turtleneck with a blue denim skirt - all of which were charming as the
designer avoided taking the theme to literally.
The collection quietly closed with textured whites including plenty of boucle mixed with
satin, denim, wool and cashmere.
This was the second season that Hilfiger showed his collection independently from the New
York collections since he took a break from staging runway shows in February 2000.
"This works really well for me. I like the intimacy, and this is less stressful for me and
the people who work for me," Hilfiger, who rocked the house at Madison Square Garden during
the September 1999 Fashion Week, said.
"I'm not sure if and when I'll do a big show like that again - it all depends on the mood
of the public," he stated, adding that he also prefers "to bring out the samples at this
time rather than the earlier [February] date.
And in the end," he declared with a grin and pulled open the collar of his over-shirt to
show the writing on the T-shirt underneath, which read: "It's all about me."
Tommy Hilfiger Womenswear
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