MANHATTAN — Dashing daytime TV star Mark Consuelos was seen wearing washed Nantucket colors on Houston Street showing off one of the many stay-cool styles that Manhattanites are wearing to beat the heat.
Classic American looks such as crisp checks and the pastel palette seen on Consuelos are currently seen side by side on the streets with another strong fashion trend of the moment — that of global style.
This global fashion direction has been gaining strength on the runways of Europe and New York for the past few years as dashes of a non-western aesthetic have steadily edged their way into focus.
Most recently, the Spring 2013 men’s collection for Jean-Paul Gaultier featured Indian turbans paired with variations of Scottish kilt-like Bermuda shorts, French sailor stripe knits and platform Maine boat shoes.
In Manhattan, Street Chic captured a genuine Southeast-Asian conical hat paired with a Basque striped shirt, Buddhist beads, near-east blue stone rings and all worn against the very popular cotton gauze tunic in desert tone Basque stripes.
A most striking combination was seen on accessory designer Michael Nelson — a cool white cotton embroidered tunic from Morocco, a colorful West African beaded bracelet and a coordinating beaded handle tote made of rubberized Italian leather.
The ‘summer scarf’ has made its way to city streets in spite of heat. This accessory has seen many coiled and knotted incarnations, the most captivating being chic 1940s "war bride"-style statements. This trend was first identified by Street Chic in September during New York Fashion Week.
