INTERACTIVE:

Abboud to Valvo -- Take a first look at New York's wintery wonders for fall '99

February 16, 1999
Web posted at: 7:49 p.m. EST (0049 GMT)

(CNN) -- Fall has come early in New York, sweeping ahead of London, Paris and Milan, to bring U.S. winter wear to the fashion forefront.

Fashion Week, staged six weeks earlier than usual, started off with a jolt last week with shoe and clothing designer Kenneth Cole's creations, carried on Monday and Tuesday with a rash of collection debuts, many featuring both mens' and women's' fashions together.

Most of the shows are carried out under tents in Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library.

Early collections included Donna Karan's DKNY line of men's and women's sporty wear, and Carolina Herrera's glamorous and luxurious clothes including mink pullover sweaters and sequin-strewn skirts.

Betsey Johnson had a theatrical show of baby-doll dresses and vintage taffeta blouses. BCBG's fall line by Max Azria was rough and tumble with hand-knit sweaters, felt trousers and cowboy boots.

The week ends Friday with Calvin Klein, staged in a Chelsea loft.

Designers say this year's earlier opening puts them ahead of fashion houses in Europe, leaving more time for production and delivery, and less chance of criticism over copying.

"There's a slight puffing of the chest, now that Americans can compete on a world level and didn't have to be last in the ring of shows," said Stan Herman, president of 7th on Sixth, which coordinates Fashion Week.

The change in New York's Fashion Week was started by German designer Helmut Lang, whose move to the city and decision to show during the early spring Fashion Week last fall, prompted other designers to follow.

However, not all U.S.-based designers will show this week. Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene, citing late fabric deliveries, will debut their collections in April.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.