DKNY Menswear Gets All Hip Americana On Us

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We're conflicted. We hate passing through that weird sorta Gramercy/sorta Garment District area of the city where Broadway slices through the 20s—but now the wholesale designer impostor armpit houses the fabulous Ace Hotel, its buzzed about restaurant, and the nearly-opened satellite locations of Opening Ceremony and Project No. 8. And while we appreciate DKNY and market it serves, we don't exactly lust over the collection either. But judging from their fall 2010 presentation last night—our Fall/Winter 2010 New York Fashion Week kick-off—in the Ace's lodgey lobby, even that seems to be changing.

Models—all 36 looks of them—lounged and lulled about the lobby in slim trousers tucked into chunky hiking boots and thick athletic socks, creating sort of a hipster diorama accessorized with over-stuffed leather couches and taxidermy. Grays predominated but shocks of orange and royal blue came in the form of fitted checked dress shirts and tech-pique polos. Dark suits had a touch of sheen; sweaters tended towards chunky; and patch-worked and color-blocked fabrics and contrasting trims charmed. Slimmer, darker, younger and with a touch of that ubiquitous woodiness—the collection seems to be moving in a more current, quality menswear-focused direction. We hope those themes make it to Macy's.

And it wasn't just the trendy clothing and the trendy location—the presentation was a full-on party. The bar was wide open; a DJ played electro and house; the scene was young—leather clad and bespectacled; and a very 2010, meat-heavy array of nibblies poured forth from the Breslin's kitchen. Donna Karan—who was in attendance, mingling and nibbling—really wants you to know that DKNY gets "it."
· DKNY [Official Site]