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.

The Spring/Summer 2010 Dries Van Noten collection was inspiring, but there is one thing I don’t understand.

The way Dries always seems to turn printed fabrics with headache-inducing potential into beyond chic pieces of clothing without loosing one bit of “wow” factor, makes me adore him. Like a good student of fashion, if I don’t know/understand something I have to ask the tough questions.

Therefore, Dries, though I am practically in love with this collection, what is up with the one-armed blazer look?

From the apparent arm straps, I am assuming there is actually another half to the look. Why send models down the runway looking like I do while struggling to juggle putting on my jacket, carry my over-stuffed bag, and text friends simultaneously?

In no way does this a-symmetry change my feelings for the collection. I’m just confused, and I hate being confused.

Any thoughts on the half-jacket?
Photos: Style.com

Being one of the only people rooting for Estrella Archs and Lindsey Lohan as the Chief Designer and Artistic Adviser, respectively, I can honestly say, the Spring/Summer 2010 Emanuel Ungaro collection wasn’t all that I had hoped.

I wanted it to be amazing, so people would simply shut up about the Lohan aspect, but amazing it was not. However, I can’t say that the collection was sub-par either. It was merely average.

Like most collections, there were things I really like and things I either didn’t understand or simply didn’t like.

Things I like:

• The all-over heart print - It may be a little Valentine’s Day, but something about wearing black on Valentine’s Day and hearts whenever I want truly appeals to my antagonistic side.
• The brush strokes - the dry-brush fabric used for many of the pieces was a bit edgy, but the simple strokes and the designs juxtapose it perfectly. Also, at times the pattern reminds me of feathers, and I can’t get enough of feathers.
• Puffy-sleeved, wrap shirts - I love a good wrap and the puffy sleeve tugs at my Gypsy-loving innards.

Things I dislike:

• Harem pants - I was over the trend before it started. No matter the length, they’re always a no in my book.
• Fur stoles - I don’t understand why they would send fur stoles down the runway for a spring/summer collection.
• Pasties - I think that just speaks for itself. No, no, no!

I guess, design-wise, I don’t particularly have a problem with the collection. The shapes were a bit limited, but the collection was only created in about a month. So, Archs is safe. My biggest problem seems to be with styling (fur stoles, pasties, etc.), and since I still have no idea what Lindsey does other than gain publicity for the brand, I can’t blame her for the styling. Lohan’s still my favorite celebutante.

Photos: Style.com

p.s. I realize that the Lohan decision is the only true turn off most industry people disagree with.

My first infatuation with an entire collection has finally occurred this season. Generally, I love a skirt here or a dress there from most collections, but in my opinion, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2010 collection was perfection from Look 1.

I might be completely crazy because the collection was a bit reminiscent of collections past, but I felt like I could identify with everything sent down the runway. That’s what this giant industry of fashion is all about, right, creating something that is not only beautiful but also marketable to consumers so the cycle has a chance of continuing for another season.

Though, like most people, my self-perception may be a little skewed, I saw my own style in the Marc by Marc collection— or maybe it was simply the style I wish I had. Everything about the laid-back tees with belted skirts, mismatch prints, bold colors, and large hair bows feel right for this time of my life.

Sure, I may replace some of the bows with feathers or leaves à la DVF’s S/S ’10 collection, and I might even trade more of the plaid shirts for t-shirts, but even without doing anything to the collection, I would wear head-to-toe Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S ’10 forever if I could.

New York Fashion Week is in full swing, and yet again, I’m swamped and barely have time to look at runway pictures, much less have time to digest the trends I’ve been seeing. However, no matter how busy I get, I always make time to look at the Diane von Furstenberg collection, and this season is no different.

DVF’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection is the perfect continuation to the Nomad story she was telling with her Fall/Winter 2009-2010 collection— you know the one where all of the pieces are “like old friends”? Not to diminish my friends, but they are nothing like clothes, much less DVF clothes, but I digress.

The S/S ’10 collection was draped and layered similarly to the Nomad collection, but it looks almost as if the Nomads stopped by Egypt while Cleopatra was in power and bedding whomever was ruling Rome at the time— Gaius Julius Caesar, Mark Antony— I don’t blame her.

They change their layers to lighter more diaphanous fabrics, and they put on gladiator sandals. The patterned, in primarily muted colors, didn’t overwhelm the plethora of hippie style dresses, but to add a bit of color all the models were adorned by large multi-colored woven bangles, stacked high on the forearm.

I could probably wax poetic about each and every piece, but in truth, my favorite thing about the collection is the hair. The crimpiness just screams summer without looking like the models just walked out of the eighties, and the crown of leaves is definitely a statement piece anyone can do no matter the hair cut, texture, or length. I’m thinking leaves are the new feathers, but I will probably do some mixture of the two because the little girl in me still wants to be Pocahontas.

p.s. I think I’m obsessed with the coin-covered shift dress Arlenis is wearing below.

So, the Twinkle by Wenlan Spring/Summer 2010 fashion show was such a success. I was beyond busy at the beginning of the day. I was helping check-in models and also was sent to Exit Art to pick up two models who were working the Ruffian show— we wanted to make sure they got to the tents with enough time for hair and make-up. Everything went as planned and the show started on time, or on time enough for fashion’s standards—only 30 minutes late!

Though I had seen the collection coming together at the office, I was so surprised how amazing everything looked going down the runway. The orange lips were so fun for spring. As always, the dresses were flirty, and the relaxed pants that I wasn’t so sure about were beyond lust-worthy. As the music pumped and my heart raced, my finger was clicked the shutter button on my camera so fast, I had no idea what any of the pictures would look like, but some turned out pretty good considering I was lurking in standing.

I ran around in 5″ heels the entire day, as I waited backstage for people to clear out so we could clean up, I realized my feet were in no pain. However, as I finally was able to sit while on the train home, I realized the painlessness was simply do to adrenaline, because the balls of my feet were throbbing. The pain was well worth it!

Though Theyskens is allegedly (almost certainly) on the way out at Nina Ricci, he didn’t fail to impress. I adore the origami trend that has been floating around lately, and Theysken has taken it to the nth degree. The strapless teal gown literally made me squeal in glee.

A lot of the Balmain details made me think of the infamous club kids— I’m talking about James St. James and his cronies not The Misshapes and the band of merry hipsters. If the models had crazy make-up and neon 8” platform boots on they could have been extras in the movie Party Monster.

The outrageous shoulder trend was ever-present in both shows, but that, I can forgive partially because they were tempered with skimpy minis and amazing shapes at Nina Ricci and partially because we saw the trend emerge first at Balmain’s Spring/Summer ’09 show— who can forget those marching band jackets?

How do you feel about what you’ve seen at the various fashion weeks of late?

Photo Credit: NYMag.com

Exhibit A: Very few people may be able to pull off the overly long braids, over-sized safari helmet combo without looking in the mirror and laughing at themselves, but look past the obvious frivolity and see the extra long skinnies and gorgeous cream jacket with just enough avant-garde added to the sleeves. It’s actually quite functional, and very few people would complain if they owned such beautiful pieces.

Exhibit B: All I have to say is, Bag. Sweater. Tights. Vargas Girl knickers. HELLO!

Exhibit C: This look is probably the most simple look of the entire collection. It is casual, but it’s exaggerated size makes it fresh instead of matronly. A little whimsy is thrown in with the sling shot necklace, which can actually be useful if you happen to be channeling Dennis the Menace for the day, or if you are going small (very small) game hunting. It actually might be my favorite part of the outfit.

Though the collection as a whole is a story, I think part of Vivienne’s appeal is that every look she sends down the runway has it’s own mini story to tell. Peep the entire collection on style.com and tell us what the collection says to you (or just spill about your favorite/least favorite look).

While watching make sure to keep an eye out for the “guy” who chops down the tree with his ax (you’ll get it, just watch), it makes me giggle a bit. Also don’t miss the super-cute white, Erin Fetherston dress I’ve been craving since I first saw the collection. (The sound cuts out toward the end or something, but you can still see the clothes)

My Prom kind of sucked, both times. Yup, I went to Prom twice, and I had a miserable time twice. Ask me one day, and maybe I’ll tell you the details, but for now, I’ve decided my Prom wouldn’t have been so wretched if Betsey Johnson was involved.

This season Betsey’s entire collection was about Prom, and what a prom it would have been if everyone was dressed in BJ. She adorned the models in dresses inspired by every decade. Girls trotted down the runway in everything from fifties dresses with giant crinolines to a red, white, and blue dress commemorating 9/11 (she showed on Sept. 11th).

We couldn’t help but to ooh and ahh at each dress, even if we wouldn’t have worn them to prom; they were all just so beautiful. We were also really stoked BJ loves fakey flowers in the hair just as much as we do. More than one model came down the runway with over-sized floral arrangements on top of their heads and we jumped for joy.
All of those girls who still have a chance to go to Prom, this collection is a great place to start looking for inspiration, or you could technically wait until spring and just buy these Betsey dresses. Either way, you’ll be the bell of the ball!

Photos courtesy of NY Mag.

“Wait, these dresses aren’t supposed to be first.” Those were the first thoughts that came to mind when I started scrolling through the pictures of the Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 collection. So, to make sure I wasn’t going crazy, I read the runway review on Style.com. Thankfully, their words were reassuring, “…this extraordinary show was unspooling backward, starting with look 56 and running down to one.”

After getting over the shock that the show was backward, I was able to actually concentrate on the collection. When looking through the pictures you quickly realize the sheerness of everything quite literally. Most of the clothes in the collection were sheer, had some sheer additive, or gave the illusion of being sheer. Like other collections this season, this gives us a very sexy, boudoir feeling. Some clothes were sexy because they showed peeks of undergarments (some just showed all of the undergarments) and some were sexy because they were in the perfect state of dishevelment. It wasn’t the in-your-face sort of sexy, but sexy in a way only MJ could create.

Though I absolutely loved the clothes in the collection, it was the accessories that really made me swoon. He had knitted leather clutches sewn onto sheer totes, shoes whose heels came from the ball of the foot, and sunglasses that weren’t really sunglasses (think the girlie version of the sunglasses in Kayne West’s “Stronger” video). I was almost drooling on my keyboard by the time the collection finished.

Yet again, Marc Jacobs, fashion’s golden child, has manage to knock the entire fashion industry on its ass and we loved it!

Photos courtesy of NY Mag and Style.com.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” This quote from Twelfth Night is the first thing that came to mind when looking at Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2008 collection.

This year Ralph Lauren was celebrating 40 years in the biz, so he decided to celebrate with a lavish runway show and a black-tie party after in the Central Park Conservatory on Saturday night. Tons of big names came to help Lauren party including Robert De Niro, SJP, Carolina Herrera, DVF, Donna Karen, and even Mayor Bloomberg.

The clothes that came down the runway evoked a very English socialite feel. Ralph Lauren says he “drew upon everything [he] ever loved, and that was it.” Oddly enough everything he “ever loved” made us swoon like the first time we put on a pair of pumps.

The 72 piece collection started with all black and white pieces, ruffled hems and top hats were in abundance. Then, after a slow addition of color, the frocks turned to delightfully girlie floral printed dresses. The lovely floral gowns morphed into vibrant jockey wear and bold statement-making dress which vanished and were replaced by dazzling dresses that scream black-tie affair. As the show finished and Ralph Lauren came down the runway to applause, the black-tie dinner started, how perfect!

If Ralph Lauren wasn’t born great, he has definitely achieved greatness within these last 40 years. Here’s to another 40 years!

Photos courtesy of Style.com.

Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler have become fashion’s new “IT” boys the past couple of years, and if you couldn’t understand why then, perhaps their Spring 2008 collection will now help you understand exactly how great they are. This collection was all about sexy curves, long legs, and opposites.

Like the BCBG collection there were many belts cinching the waist, creating a gorgeous hourglass figure (it looks like we better start stocking up on belts). Also, every outfit, except for the one Maryna Linchuk strutted down the runway in, was super short and showed off those gams. As for opposites, the boys said they were going for “something organic and man-made, primitive and refined.” That is exactly what the achieved too.

The show opened with Raquel Zimmerman coming down the runway in a black mini dress with both a hemp waist coat and vest on top of it. This look was very military, as were many other pieces; some outfits were even topped off with calvary hats designed by Albertus Swanepoel.

Their affection for military garb slowly turned into an adoration for tribal. Agyness Deyn and Viviane Orth were both sent down in dresses that with zebra patterns, though our favorite was the dress Aggy wore.

When their tour of the safari concluded they went straight to pure luxury and refinement. Gorgeous pieces like the one Liya Kebede wore which was a double-breasted sleeveless coat-dress made of gold-leaf silk came down the runway.

The collection was almost like the stylistic version of a king going hunting and when he finished he threw a grand ball to celebrate his return. We love it, how about you?

Photos courtesy of Style.com.

We first spoke of Sue Stemp about a month ago when we fell for her ‘Atomic’ dress. It was so many things, we couldn’t even begin to list them, but we knew we loved it. That is exactly how we felt about her Spring 2008 collection. It was so many amazing things going on we just couldn’t help but to swoon!

The collection was centered around a sort of disco hippie theme, put at times it felt like some of the models were ready to swashbuckle because of pink bandannas tied around their heads. The bright prints and maxi dresses were very bohemian and followed the trends that began emerging towards the end of this summer. It also is good to see Stemp doesn’t hate our favorite summer trend, the braided headband.

The metallic fabrics and jogging pants were so disco you might feel like you’re at Studio 54 or at least watching Chloë Sevigny in The Last Days of Disco. We love the silver metallic dress model, Ekat Kiseleva wore down the runway.
We think this is definitely a collection that would make any good hipster proud!

See a video of the show here.
Photos courtesy of Style.com

The Fall 2007 collection of BCBG Max Azria was very dark and heavy. There were clothes with tons of layers and voluminous trapeze dresses that hid your curves, but the Spring 2008 collection is the polar opposite. The clothes are light, airy and accentuates all the right places.

There is playful balance between what is demure and fit for a lady and what is flirty and very sexy. This was most evident in the dress lengths. The longer dresses were all below the knee, but if the dress was short, then it was very short like the black mini dress Bruna Tenorio came down the runway in.

The collection almost gives off a 30s boudoir feel. All the fabrics either have a gauzy texture and are sheer or a very satiny look to them. Even the more demure looks like the dress on Masha Tyelna looked almost like an old fashion dressing gown. The length of the opaque part also plays into the Lady and the Tramp dichotomy.

The most noticeable part of the entire collection were the belts. Almost every piece that came down the runway had a belt. This made every model even the rail-thin, boy-shaped ones look as if they had an hour glass figure.

Perhaps curves will be coming back after all!

This collection just makes you want to buy a vanity and some very pale loose powder and then perhaps go visit a private eye who’ll sweep you off your feet as he looks for your long lost sister.

See a video of the show here!
Photos courtesy of Style.com