Pink Rock Candy – Top fashion trends, news and shopping of 2010

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I’m generally the last person to focus on the race of a model, but while perusing the Halston Spring 2011 photos on Style.com I realized how distracting it was to have five black models walk the runway one-after-another wearing the only black garments in the collection.

Though I know the initial implication is slightly scandalous. I am not attempting to make some statement about Marios Schwab’s morals though black models in all black will insight waves of revolt, I’m writing about this to show why we shouldn’t always jump to conclusions when the question of race is at hand.

In my mind, the distraction had nothing and everything to do with race. If Schwab had sent five black models in completely different looks down the runway one-after-another, I would have been taken by surprise, not being used to seeing such an abundance of black models walking a runway. However, it was the entire look, the shadowy figures wearing pops of gold that caught my attention. It was the odd, yet beautiful contrast of it all.

I’m not sure why, but quickly flipping through the images of lanky, highly-oiled black models— all different shades of cocoa— wearing black outfit after black outfit gives me chills. It’s like staring at a haunting image at an art gallery. It also made me wonder what other patterns were hiding in the runway arrangement.

It seems there was a bit of a pattern going on: brunettes with hair slicked back wore shades of blue, while the blondes, hair long and flowing, wore blush tones. The models with ruddier toned hair wore gold, and the Asian models wore white. The brunettes with long, straight hair finished the show in oranges and reds.

What does all of this mean?

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you, but had I not been distracted by the sudden juxtaposition of a parade of umbral beauties, I wouldn’t have noticed in the least. Though it may be sad that having more than a couple black models in a row is attention grabbing, I think it’s what the collection needed for people to take a second look. It’s a collection I will remember not simply for the magnificently crafted and luxe-looking garments, but also for the thought behind the entire presentation.

When I was little I was playing around in an aisle with my younger brother when accosted by a lady of a certain age who commented on hope cute the two brothers were. From then on I vowed never to resemble a boy and my bangs were born. They’ve covered my forehead for most of my life and are sort of the fame whores of the body— but I think Spring 2011 will be season I truly let my forehead come back out to play.

The bare forehead trend started with Tyra (doesn’t it always?). She went through the entire TK season of America’s Next Top Model while sporting a chic chignon, showing off her self proclaimed “five-head.”

Then, after watching the Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011 runway show and being utterly uplifted by the Garden of Eden-themed Spring 2011 Monique L’Huillier runway show, I realized how inspired I’d become by the sporting slicked back buns showing off all of the models’ beautiful faces.

Later, while looking at Spring 2011 shows ranging from Diane von Furstenberg to Alexander Wang to Wayne, I started to see more of a trend than just personal inspiration. Even Erin Fetherston whose models usually sport the designer’s signature blunt bangs had a slicked back, forehead-exposing look/.

I can’t wait to feel the sun warming my entire face, though I’ll surely be apply my fair share of sunscreen— safety first!

So braid, clip or brush those stray hairs back, and let your forehead shine— er, use a mattyifier, but definitely show it off.

I admit it, I’m jaded. The thrill of attending a fashion show is now lost on me.

First, you’re wrangled into a herd that buzzes like a swarm of coked-up hornets. Once you’re finally allowed to go into the venue, you have to push and shove your way through the crowd to find your seat or get a spot where you can barely see in standing.

At this point, your forced to wait for what feels like eternity— obsessively checking your phone so you feel busy— while photographers flock around some celebrity who may or may not be famous enough to make you stare and the Do-you-know-who-I-think-I-am people try desperately to get the attention of anyone moderately notable.

Once the show finally starts, you realize you’ve spent and hour waiting for a no-more-than 15 minute show and unless you’re sitting front row (maybe even the second row), your view of the actual looks are hindered.

Don’t get me wrong, I have an undying love for fashion and will always attend shows. But coming from the perspective of fast-talking (and walking) PR girl, nothing compares to the rush of being one of the proverbial cattle herders and seeing something you’ve worked so hard on come together.

Maybe it’s a power thing and maybe I’m just wired to appreciate those I’m connected to more than others, but one the one thing I know is true is that I miss the PR rush!

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There’s a certain feeling— a whole body buzz— you get when watching a runway show you’ve helped create. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that feeling during the Fall/Winter 2010 Twinkle by Wenlan runway show. I stopped interning there as Fall 2010 was being prepared, and I can’t say I had anything to do with the magic that was seen during the show. Yes, I did say magic, and that’s because I loved the collection. I’ll even go as far to say I liked Fall 2010 better than Spring 2010, and I had some hand in the preparation for the Spring show. The dark fairytale theme of Fall 2010 starkly contrasts this Springs 80s glitz, Blondie meets Ono aesthetic, and the normally trapeze and girlie silhouettes were replaced by a more form fitting and sexy shape, all while maintaining the essence of the fun, flirty, will-keep-you-guessing Twinkle girl. The Hansel and Gretel print seen in the vanilla sleeveless number to the left, is something I would wear all year, but was smartly contrasted by a white Chunky Knit scarf wrapped to the chin. However, it was this Nostalgia long sleeve dress that was my favorite. The parchment color is so utilitarian, but the shape is sexy and feminine. Oh, and did I mention the necklace, and the rest of the jewelry, for that matter? It was just my style, chunk, chunk, chunky! All I have to say is, congrats Wenlan and all the other lovely ladies whom I adore and who worked so hard on this collection. It was a total success.

p.s. To see what I wore, follow the jump!

So what did I learn whilst waiting for and attending the Christian Siriano F/W 2010 show yesterday?

1. Paul Wilmot Communications, the PR firm that handled front-of-house, is super organized. They were doling out seating assignments before they even thought of opening the line. Good work guys!

2. Even if you are an eFamous ex-scenequeen, you aren’t getting into the Siriano show without an invite.

3. I miss my Twinkle by Wenlan girls. I bumped into another lady I interned with, and I miss her so much.

4. The Standing Section absolutely sucks, and taking pictures from Standing is even worse.

5. If you are in Standing and happen to be next to a tall guy with a video camera, you can sneakily watch the show through his view finder instead of not watching the show because of the person’s head in front of you.

6. Christian Siriano’s Project Runway win wasn’t a fluke. The Fall/Winter 2010 collection may have been a bit dark— the shimmery blacks and ink blues bled into hues of wine and a bit of fuchsia— but, it was beautiful, both in conception and execution.

7. If the Siriano collection is any representation of Fall 2010, everyone will be wearing the chic combo of black and navy.

8. I desperately want a short, navy one-shoulder bubble dress and black, half-wedge booties (left), of which a similar design will be available at Payless.

9. Even gorgeous models who open and close shows like Sessilee Lopez trip sometimes (she didn’t fall though).

10. Christian Siriano is as cute and FIERCE from 50 feet away as he is on TV. L-O-V-E!

Photo Credit: Photo by Arun Nevader/Getty Images North America from Zimbio