Fashion Week Round Up

I don't know about you, but there is something exciting and refreshing about this year's New York Fashion Week. The most obvious difference is the new location; shows are held uptown at Lincoln Center and no longer at Bryant Park. But the overflow of special events, different forms of presentations, numerous rising designers, and the influence of the digital world have all created something uniquely new in today's ever changing fashion.

There is so much going on, so we bring you a few snippets of what we have been up to this past week, as well as brief summaries of what we are seeing. We warn you that this is a heavy post filled with photos and videos to accompany the write-ups, but we guarantee that you will love what you're reading!

So as we mentioned earlier, after 17 years, Bryant Park is no longer the hub of New York Fashion Week. And with 98 shows and presentations this season, up 80 from last year, everything is bigger and better in the new home that is 30 percent larger than that of Bryant Park.  Moving away from exclusivity, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, the first fashion director of NY Fashion Week, is also making it a goal to make Fashion Week more available to the masses and plans to create a year-round fashion presence at the center. 

photo via: NY Times

But in case you didn't make your way up to the Lincoln Center, nearly all shows were part of a live-streaming network this year. Using everything from Facebook and Twitter, to Conde Nast's Style.com live-stream, AOL's Stylist.com, or FirstComeFashion.com, anyone from anywhere was invited take part in the latest fashion shows.

photo via: NY Times

Burberry went above and beyond anyone else though, allowing customers to see the show on a live-streamed broadcast and then immediately making it available to order the merchandise as the models strut in it. The company promises its customers that their orders will be shipped within seven weeks, versus the normal four to six month wait. 

photo via: NY Times

Tom Ford, however, went on a completely different route, opting for a private and intimate setting similar to that of the old-time couture shows of the 60's. After six years of absence, Mr. Ford invited 100 guests to a special presentation at his men's store on Madison Avenue with Terry Richardson as the only photographer permitted to take pictures. All of the 32 models were as individual as she could be, including Julianne Moore, Beyonce Knowles, Emmanuelle Seigner, Lauren Hutton, Rita Wilson, Rachel Feinstein, Marisa Berenson, Daphne Guinness, Lisa Eisner, Farida Khelfa, Lou Doillon, as well as a few supermodels, including Joan Smalls, Liya Kebede, Amber Valletta, Daria Werbowy, and Stella Tennant. Mr. Ford narrated the show, calling out each woman and then giving a lively, detailed description of her outfit. Unlike every other designer, Mr. Ford will hold back all photos of the collection until December when he will make them available on his website along with a mini-film of the show. The clothes will be in stores in late January or February. 

Last week, Custo Barcelona presented his spring summer 20011 show at Lincoln Center. We were fortunate to attend the show and brought you some photos from backstage. 

Inspired by musical festivals, there was a discovery of new textures and volumes as the girls walked down the runway in feathers, shiny embroidery, and bold shots of neon and mixed graphic prints. 

                          

This Monday, we attended Auralis' spring summer '11 fashion show hosted by The Green Shows. The Puerto Rican designer Auralis Herrero called her vision for this spring "Urban Tropical", presenting a runway of clothes inspired by her childhood in the Caribbeans mixed with the spirit of her current hometown, New York City. The collection was absolutely perfect for the hot summer days and we especially loved the silk series. Auralis' mission to create fashion without leaving a carbon footprint means all her pieces are made from organic, sustainable, or recycled fabrics with low-impact processing.

Before the show started, we got to meet Belinda Pasqua, the founder behind The Sway handbags. Her bags were not only stylish and fashion forward, they were made using hand crafted techniques and with overstocked leathers and recycled fabrics. 

And last but not least, we close out today's post with some of our favorite images from last Friday's Fashion's Night Out. It was much more extravagant than the last, and we hope that for those who were able to make it, had a blast.

Naomi Campbell celebrating the night with her girls

 photo via: WWD

Opening Ceremony Parisian Flea Market

photo via: Opening Ceremony

Alexander Wang with his crew at his OC flea market booth

photo via: Style.com

Devon Aoki puts on her poker face at Valentino

photo via: Refinery 29

Anjali and Naeem Khan sing Jai Ho at Bergdorf's

photo via: Refinery 29

Anna Wintour and blogger Tavi Gevinson at Barneys

photo via: Zimbio

Designer duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren at Saks Fifth Avenue

photo via: WWD

Despite the economic instability, September is off to great start and we are excited about the energy and celebratory spirit that is moving in the fashion industry. We hope you enjoyed this post and stay tuned for our next update!