the true best of new york fashion week: Oscar de la Renta

Classic.

That is the simpliest, yet most direct way to describe anything Oscar de la Renta touches.

This collection needs no review. It needs no recount. For me, it defines how a woman should dress and the ultimate in style.

And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Cathy Horyn of the New York Times writes about his ability to create a look for every kind of woman, and have them be individualized at the same time.

The bright colors echoed the season as bright purples, blues, and oranges made many appearances down the catwalk. He showed many different kinds of looks, per usual, from casual daywear to red carpet ready. Oscar defines fashion. Of course, every show has pieces that not everyone addresses with. But this show, so far, is the best of New York Fashion Week. All in my opinion, of course.

I'm truly at a loss for words.

Slideshow of the looks.

Favorite Look:

Okay. It isn't fair. But I really can't choose. Really can't.
If you don't look at any of the rest of the slideshows, look at this one.
Seriously.

the best of new york fashion week: Rodarte

The fabulously wacky sister duo Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte, who just won the CFDA's award for 2009 Womenswear Designer of the Year, turned out their newest collection on Tuesday.

In a strange mix between tribal and gothic tones, the girls never cease to impress with their unique take on dresses and prints. According to style.com's review, who says it much eloquently than I dare attempt to repeat, "In other words, they aged, painted, burned, shredded, sandpapered, and otherwise destroyed all of the materials—including grungy scraps of plaid, plastic, cheesecloth, wool cobweb, crystals, macramé, leather, and more—until they bore only traces of what they had been originally."

I mean how...how did they construct some of these garments? Pieces of the dresses are so intricate I can only imagine what backstage looked like trying to get actual people into them. What truly amazes me about these girls is how delicate garments that are so hard can become with a little inspiration.

Last season, I found myself lusting after the mini dresses that had this unbelievable fluidity without being anything I'd ever seen before. After gaining their sterling reputations in the fashion world, I feel as this collection speaks most to who they are as designers...so far at least.

Ps. How cool is the floor?

Slideshow of the looks.

Favorite Look:

Ok. Practical, no. Unbelievable, yes.



Maybe in a dream, I will walk down Michigan Avenue in the dead of winter wearing this. And of course be this skinny...sigh.

Photo by: Marcio Madeira via style.com

the VERY best of new york fashion week: Marc Jacobs

no heels.
all flats.
pure genius.

Inspired by bringing women back to more theatrical, lively ways of dressing, my all time favorite man/designer/person Marc Jacobs presented his Spring 2010 show on Monday.

"If last season was a trip back in time to the eighties," he continued, "this was a trip to the theater, the ballet, the opera."

Now I'm really not sure any show will ever beat out Marc's Spring 09 show, and I mean for the rest of my life. But this show, while lacking the same fluidity usually expected by his fans, brought costumes right off a stage and onto the streets.

The minute details always make it for me. They are why I hold the most respect for him as a designer. He could probably twist around a bag of garbage and sell it for thousands on Madison Avenue.

And I still cannot BELIEVE he didn't use heels.

Slideshow of the looks.

Favorite Look:



It has a military feel, which doesn't really go with the rest of the looks. But the skirt fits in, and is completely genius. However, it's really too bad I'd need pants since my legs do not look like that.

...and I may or may not get in trouble as soon as these shoes come out for purchasing them immediately.

Photo by: Marcio Madeira via style.com

the best of new york fashion week: Alexander Wang

At his show on Pier 94 last Saturday, Alexander Wang took an American classic and spruced it up a bit. And by a bit, I mean tons, per usual.

At Nordstrom where I work on Michigan Avenue, the women's clothing departments are on the 3rd floor. I do my best, usually failing, to stay away from that floor altogether. But I always MUST stay far from Alex Wang at risk of spending my minimal paycheck.

He's very young at 24, but has already had collaborations with Gap and Uniqlo, as well as been recognized by the CFDA. This collection surpassed his previous genius as he unveiled his american football inspired collection.

According to the style.com review, he wanted to created a few timeless, staple pieces that will last girls longer than just the fads of the current season. With Wang, there always seems to be a minute detail that you don't find until the last minute, or a fairly typical item that has never been used that way before. And to think, I'm only 3 years younger.

Some of the looks were a bit off the deep end for me, like shirts with the stomachs cut out. But overall, his aesthetic and uniqueness won me over.

Slideshow of the looks.

Favorite Look:
I'm mostly obsessed with the skirt, and the textures that contrast on the two shirts.



And oh, those braids.

Photo by: Marcio Madeira via style.com

the best of new york fashion week: Zac Posen

The oh, so fun to look at Zac Posen never ceases to amaze.

After he moved his show to Monday morning instead of Thursday, he also switched locations to stir things up a bit. The Altman Building housed Posen's show, and the smaller venue echoed the designer's visions quite well.

Looks featured color block looks and vibrant colors, some with cutouts and various new shapes not typical of Zac's evening and sophisticated style. He did large and small prints, and created numerous fantastic looks that women actually will want to wear on the daily. Minus the pricepoint, of course. One day I found a Zac dress online at Glit for $250 dollars, and didn't buy it. Still kicking myself.

Anyway, love Zac. Love this collection and it's fun loving looks.

Slideshow of the looks.

Favorite Look: Ok looks. I really can't decide.
So I picked a dress and a seperates outfit.


I may or may not like green.

Photos by: Marcio Madeira via style.com

the best of new york fashion week: Diane Von Furstenberg

As if anyone is surprised.

The goddess herself, DVF showed her Spring 2010 collection at Bryant Park on Sunday. The designer was insprired by a girl that is "looking into antiquity for effortless beauty." Her shows and styles always contain ethereal, flowly, and feminine looks. None of these were absent, but DVF also added a few fabulous tailored looks to round out her show.

Every show, a general theme cascades over the runway to compose a liquidity. This show centered around this season's nomad searcher with Egypt and the desert on her horizon, along with a side visit to the Pre-Raphaelites, according to style.com's review.

This is my favorite of her shows in a long time. I really loved last season's Rock Goddess, but this season seems to get back to her feminine roots while adding bold acccessories and new silhouettes to perfect her already flawless clothes.

My one complaint is how I could skip the neon/bright bangles. I get it, but so does Claire's and the 12 year olds that shop there.

Slideshow of all the looks.

Favorite Look:
SO buying the cardigan and belt.
Work it outtt.

Photo by: Marcio Madeira via style.com

new york fashion week: day one.

Photo by: Casey Kelbaugh via the New York Times

It's officially begun. My favorite week of the year. Spring 2010 kicked off yesterday at Bryant Park in NYC for Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.

Some highlights were BCBG Max Azria, Vena Cava, Ports 1961, and Elie Tahari.

None of my favorites of all time, but definitely worth checking out.

Winning Look: Vena Cava!
Love the simple details.

Photo by Marcio Madeira, via style.com