New York Fashion Week

Photography courtesy of Image.net and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City is a whirlwind, to say the least. The shows, the celebrities, the parties — it’s a seven-day fantasy that sometimes feels like you’re being whisked away to the land of Oz. And, by day seven, you are definitely clicking together your ruby red stilettos and dreaming of home. The shows started last Thursday, Feb. 11, and ended yesterday, Feb. 18. These Fall/Winter 2010 collections mark the final season New York Fashion Week will be held at the tents in Bryant Park. Walking out the doors today after my final show left me with a bittersweet feeling for next season, which will be held at Lincoln Center. Better restaurants and shopping? Yes. Closer proximity to gorgeous Central Park? Absolutely. Posher hotels. Check. But there’s an indescribable magic that hangs in the air in the Garment District that will definitely be missing uptown. That said, the designers who showed this season did their best to make their Bryant Park swan song a hit.

Best in Show Designers: Ports 1961, La Perla, The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection, Mik Cire by Eric Kim, Yigal Azrouel, Christian Siriano, Gilded Age, Alexander Berardi, Charlotte Ronson, Venexiana by Kati Stern, Georges Chakra, Adam by Adam Lippes, Academy of Art University, Twinkle by Wenlan, Vivienne Tam, Arise Magazine African Collective (Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes and Deola Sagoe), Lela Rose, Luca Luca, Tony Cohen, Custo Barcelona, Vassilios Kostetsos, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation, Perry Ellis, Elie Tahari, Badgley Mischka, Pamella Roland, Thuy, Tibi, Boudoir D’huitres, Toni Francesc, Douglas Hannant, Milly, Malan Breton, davidelfin.

Celebrity Spotting: Whitney Port, Olivia Palermo, Maxwell, Jennifer Esposito, Amber Tamblyn, Maggie Rizer, Rachel Roy, Tinsley Mortimer, Robert Verdi, Nigel Barker, William H. Macy, Malin Akerman, Amber Rose, Mena Suvari, Veronica Webb, Kristen Johnston, Samantha Ronson, Matt Dillon, Philip Bloch, Miss Jay, Rachel Zoe, Katrina Bowden, Kelly Rutherford, Carol Alt, Constantine Maroulis, Kelly Bensimon, Michael Stipe, Christina Hendricks, AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Szohr, Kristen Bell, Julia Stiles, Kelly Rowland, Star Jones, Molly Sims, Kate Walsh, Michelle Trachtenberg, Robert Buckley, Jessica Stroup, Joan Rivers, Alfre Woodard, Shiri Appleby, Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, The Wonder Girls.

Tent Buzz: Heidi Klum, Joan Collins, Kim Kardashian, Dara Torres, Kimora Lee, Felicity Huffman and more modeled red dresses created by top designers to support heart disease research. You can own a dress modeled in The Heart Truth show by logging onto the Clothes Off Our Back website, now through March 5. Fashionistas were also flocking to the QVC booth to pick up the latest in must-have: “To Haiti With Love” T-shirts. QVC will donate the net proceeds from the sale of the Fashion for Haiti T-shirts to the Council of Fashion Designers of America Foundation to benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. You can get yours for $25 on the QVC website.

Trends to watch:
Designer creations this year ran the gamut from prep school to street chic, ultramodern to classic, and sleek to bohemian. Incorporate a few of the trends listed below into your fall and winter wardrobe to stay on trend in 2010.

Tops and Dresses: Sheer blouses, especially in black; corsets and strapless dresses layered over turtlenecks and long-sleeve tees; oversized sweaters and sweater coats; open backs; chunky cable-knit sweaters and vests; capes and caplets; oversized cowl-necks; cropped jackets; long, floor-sweeping dresses; statement coats.

Pants, Skirts and Hosiery: Leggings of all colors, patterns and fabrics; skinny pants, especially silk; wide-leg trousers; full-volume skirts; sheer black tights.
Accessories: Stiletto booties; lace-up tall boots; bold, chunky necklaces and cuffs; layered chain necklaces; berets, especially in candy colors; long, thick and huge — as well as cocoon and tube — scarves; long leather gloves in all colors.

Lingerie: High-waisted briefs and matching satin bras; lacy robes; triangle bras; balconnettes.

Menswear: Tailored separates; a color palette of black, gray and blue; matching ties and shirts; barely there plaids; tube scarves; lightly patterned suits; ascots; V-neck sweaters layered under blazers.

All-Over: True red, plum and gray-blue; exposed zippers; menswear influences for women; asymmetrical hemlines; rosettes on dresses, skirts and jackets; watercolor prints; leather; bold fur trim on collars and sleeves; gold, silver and bronze metallics; sequins; velvet; brocade; black lace; strategically placed cut-outs.