Rebecca outside the tents Friday night.
Venexiana by Kati Stern kicked off show week Friday night as an excited buzz filled The Salon at Bryant Park. The designs were daring and drastic – the evening gowns donned dramatic low V’s in both the front and back to create a sleek look, but Kati's use of fur and feathers is not for the faint of heart…
Pretty like Barbie...
Scary like Chewbacca.
Designer Kati Stern
Next up was Miss Sixty in The Tent at Bryant Park Sunday night. Designer Wichy Hassan put on a show the audience would be “In Love” with, as his invitation predicted. From the 60’s-themed psychedelic vans in glowing neon colors to the flowy shirts, draping necklaces, and fur accessories the models brought down the runway in true free-spirited, flower-child form…the designs were so interesting I only had a little trouble keeping my eyes on the runway and off the A-list celebs decorating the front row. Anne Hathaway, Ashley Olsen, Milla Jovovich and Chloe Sevigny were definitely taking notes from Wichy on how to create their own crowd-pleasing clothing lines.
The funky cool designs of Miss Sixty.
The weekend rain turned to snow, and the snow back to a drizzling rain by the Malandrino show time Monday morning at the Chelsea Art Museum. The show started late – as most of them do – but after an excessively long hour of standing outside in the elements, the Fall 2008 line was worth the wait. The pleating and draping of the garments gave the collection a structural feel, and the designer’s use of satin, fur and colors created a texture only Catherine Malandrino can achieve.
Outside at the Malandrino show - the Women's Wear Daily used as an umbrella is evidence the fashion world does have its unglamorous moments...
...and everyone's high heels may look fabulous, but trust me - they don't feel fabulous!
Back at the tents Thursday on another grey but rain-free day, Naeem Khan's show was perfectly accented by the background music - sounds of a dark and creepy forest filled The Promenade before the show and was replaced with a James Bond-esque beat as the models hit the runway. The silver, black and gold looks of the first half of the collection had a sleek and dramatic effect befitting of a Bond girl. As I pondered why we'd been subjected to the creepy forest, my answer sauntered down the runway in a beautiful form-fitting skirt made entirely of green peacock feathers. The animal prints added a rich warmth to his Fall 2008 line featuring beautifully draped and pleated garments.
On the Bond side of things...
...welcome to the jungle. (The peacock skirt is on the left.)
The tornado lights - a metaphor to swirl the Bond and Jungle collection together?
My new favorite designer - Naeem Khan.
The sun did not peek from behind the clouds to bid Bryant Park farewell on the last day of Fashion Week, but the energetic mood inside the tents - no doubt due to the Project Runway show that morning - had a sunny vibrancy all its own.
Tadashi Shoji created a relaxed, excited atmosphere as he pumped Michael Buble's "It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new life" through the speakers for his noon runway show. And who wouldn't want to have a new life outfitted in designs by Tadashi?? Bright green, yellow and purple pieces were either the focus of the look or provided a pop of bright color to a dark outfit. The accessories completed the looks by adding fine details - belts, scarves, grey tights, hats, and even the simple low bun of the models' hair. Perhaps Tadashi's most interesting detail is the gathered/cinched look - elbow-length leather gloves of all colors featured a gathered side seam for a textured look, and many of the dresses twisted and knotted at the front waist to create a flattering hour glass shape.
The cinched glove; the scarf-belt combination; and bright pops of color.
Two beautifully gathered dresses.
Tadashi taking a bow.
As the tents come down tomorrow, surely the sun will shine again to let New Yorkers bask in the calming expanse of the lawns of Bryant Park. Until the tents return.
Until September...
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