Fashion Week Wrap-Up

SILKY FEELING  FOR SPRING 2008

I can't believe fashion week is over! It's been insane: there were more shows, more presentations and more parties than ever before. In fact, I hosted my own party on Tuesday, September 11th, for Cynthia Rowley.

With all of this going on, cabbies went on strike on the first day of the shows, my cell phone broke, then another one went dead and you know how it is when your cell refuses to live.

Luckily the clothes were wonderful. Nothing revolutionary; breezy, easy, languid looks are what’s in for spring. So are dresses, wide leg pants, as well as ankle length (I don’t want to call them maxis), knee length and mini skirts. Any length that flatters you is available.

And the silks. It’s like someone hijacked a plane from India. There is more silk on the runways than we’ve seen since Ivana Trump donned a power blouse in the 80s. Silk is so sensuous, so light and it holds color so well; I’m thrilled that it’s going to be widely available. I’m already seeing it creeping into stores.

GOOD, BAD & NO UGLY

My list of noteworthy showings:

ABAETÉ —Designer Laura Poretzky presented art deco dresses and great floor-length looks for day.

RACHEL ROY —Loaded with talent, this newcomer has emerged as truly one-to-watch. I loved her light colors and the strong yellows and hot pink.

TRACY REESE- Standouts in her collection include the black and ivory chemise, and the fluffy cobalt blue appliqué bolero with navy palazzo pants.

VERA WANG –Thank goodness America has Vera Wang to bring some poetry and romance to clothes you want to wear.  I loved the charcoal knit polo with the organza inset in the back paired with the terra cotta crop pants. I also died for the pleated chiffon evening frock in layers of green and yellow.


BEHNAZ SARAFPOUR- If Behnaz could get some more funding, it seems like she would just soar. As it is, this was a great, if small, collection with gorgeous beaded dresses and spring jackets.

LAMB BY GWEN STEFANI- One of the better-designed celebrity lines, I can imagine Gwen wearing everything she sent down the runway including her terrific plaid blazers (Anglomania continues). And only Gwen would wear the fab, ultra-high “Kingston booties,” which come in the colors of the Jamaican flag. Big up Jamaica.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

SAVE YOUR $$$$$ FOR SOS

A few years back, I bought a tank on Seventh on Sale from Vogue’s Meredith Melling Burke at $20 a pop.  You can find great steals too, if you log on to http://www.7thonsale.ebay.com/ starting November 15th.

MODEL MEAL IN A BOX

Some models were stuffing five or six boxes of SUPERMODEL MEAL IN A BOX into their Goyard or Marc Jacobs bags.  They were being given out backstage in the W Hotel lounge at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week tents.

I read the back of the box to see how wonderful this miracle food is. Leave it to fashion to inspire one of the most life-altering inventions of our modern era: “Now the waif-like 5’9”, 97 lb frame that once seemed impossible can be yours! Two of the cinnamon Chiclets are equal to a complete meal,” it says.

However, when I went to www.blueq.com to order my month’s supply, I couldn’t find it. I’ll try again this week.

Bergdorf Goodman is getting into the celebrity act. But not just any celebrity would work for BG’s. With its high prices, the store can only carry so many names and it chooses them wisely.

Luckily, actress Sienna Miller made the cut and showed up in a red top and high-waist cigarette pants for the launch of her Twenty8Twelve collection at BG’s.

Very young and very downtown, the collection included cute, cropped leather jackets and a wide leg pant in navy. Prices are not too bad, with most pieces under $500, except for the leather.

LOS CANTANTOS

“It’s cute, right?” said Jennifer Lopez to her hubby Marc Anthony backstage after her Just Sweet show Tuesday night. Though it was around 10 p.m. and the last show of a long day, Lopez looked energetic and vivacious in a short, sexy green knit dress from the line.


In response to her question, Anthony gave her a big, full-body hug. Lopez looks so happy with her long-time friend and now husband. More comfortable than she’s seemed with all the other men she’s had relationships with.

Speaking of others. After launches of her other lines like JLo and Sweet Face did not take off as planned, Lopez says now “I think we got it just right.”

                                                                                   
 
The collection, she said, costs from about $49-$99, yet it hits all the trends. “It’s not too expensive, fabrics are nice, you have great colors.”  And there’s jewelry too. Gift bags included a black and white art deco style cocktail ring.

PARTYING CYNTHIA

Cynthia Rowley & Miss J from “America’s Next Top Model” stopped by the eBay party Tuesday night. Cynthia in a cute black and emerald green dress, wore the kind of chunky, high-heel open toe shoes seen all over the runways. She also wore jewelry from her runway show, which had taken place Friday.

Cynthia’s a big eBay user for herself, her husband and her daughter, she said, before taking off for another party—just one of at least six fashion parties going on that night.