This time around, Fashion Week is a very different affair. Gone are the superfluous hangers-on that typically crowded the shows in the past, leaving little space for those writing about the collections or the serious buyers there to purchase some styles for their stores. Absent are the multitudes of flashy parties which all seemed to benefit some foundation or other, but always ended up sounding - and feeling - all the same. Out are the excess accessories which cluttered and could make a woman’s life oh-so-difficult in the real world. Call them all casualties of our current recession, but welcomed minimalism seems to be the key word at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for Spring 2010.
What remains instead is the great enthusiasm for beautiful clothes exhibited by those dedicated fashionistas, both in the audience and working behind the scenes, which truly make the Tents at Bryant Park as magical as they appear to be. Now that the fashion industry is facing its most challenging time since Coco Chanel herself began her designing career - and that was a LONG time ago! - everyone has gone back to the basics. They have rediscovered the very essence of American style, which was lost somewhere along the path of glitz and excess. As minimalist king Calvin Klein once said “I’ve never been one to see women in ruffles and all kinds of fanciful apparel. To me it’s just silly.” I remember him adding something to the effect that bows were what you would add to a dress if you knew you hadn’t designed right in the first place.
The first day of Fashion Week started 
with a bang for me. I decided to skip the first show in favor of a Mocha sample at the McCafe kiosk and some LU chocolate biscuits from the pretty hostesses dressed in Erin Fetherston’s dashing red dresses. But then I secured a second row seat for the BCBG Max Azria collection, right behind la Miss Wintour, which is a fashion lover’s dream. I took my time inhaling in all her elegance, pairing a printed aqua and grey shirt accented by bold black details with a black, silver-studded flared skirt - very rock-n-roll Anna! - then finishing the look with lady-like nude slingbacks and her signature dark glasses. As Rachel Zoe would say, she “Shut it down!” Oh, BTW, for those who may not know, that’s a very good thing…
with a bang for me. I decided to skip the first show in favor of a Mocha sample at the McCafe kiosk and some LU chocolate biscuits from the pretty hostesses dressed in Erin Fetherston’s dashing red dresses. But then I secured a second row seat for the BCBG Max Azria collection, right behind la Miss Wintour, which is a fashion lover’s dream. I took my time inhaling in all her elegance, pairing a printed aqua and grey shirt accented by bold black details with a black, silver-studded flared skirt - very rock-n-roll Anna! - then finishing the look with lady-like nude slingbacks and her signature dark glasses. As Rachel Zoe would say, she “Shut it down!” Oh, BTW, for those who may not know, that’s a very good thing… The BCBG show was divine. The looks 
feminine and sexy and not a pair of pants to be found. Hurray to girls, the collections seemed to yell out! Some dresses in printed jersey, some in triple mesh - ultra sexy and short! - and the finale pieces in this black or white crepe material, with beading and sequins playing peek-a-boo in the back, and on the sides. Absolutely perfect for a bombshell like Deepika Padukone or even the elusively sexy Mallika Sherawat, who seemed to be MIA during the show… I know she stopped by for some photo OPs throughout the morning, but maybe preferred to view the clothes very up-close and personal, from her backstage spot alongside the Azrias. After the show, I did get a change to catch up with the ever-lovely and gracious Reshma Shetty of ‘Royal Pains’ who was wearing a gorgeous red dress with tiny gold-stud detailing in the front. When I asked Shetty her thoughts on the collection she said “The line is so wearable, [BCBG designer] Max Azria really knows how to make a woman look beautiful!” and continued “I love BCBG, it’s what I’m wearing right now”. Last word on the BCBG line: my personal favorite is the pink one-shoulder dress that is opening all the media discussions on the traditional BCBG customer. It’s chic, sexy and pretty. Very BCBG.
feminine and sexy and not a pair of pants to be found. Hurray to girls, the collections seemed to yell out! Some dresses in printed jersey, some in triple mesh - ultra sexy and short! - and the finale pieces in this black or white crepe material, with beading and sequins playing peek-a-boo in the back, and on the sides. Absolutely perfect for a bombshell like Deepika Padukone or even the elusively sexy Mallika Sherawat, who seemed to be MIA during the show… I know she stopped by for some photo OPs throughout the morning, but maybe preferred to view the clothes very up-close and personal, from her backstage spot alongside the Azrias. After the show, I did get a change to catch up with the ever-lovely and gracious Reshma Shetty of ‘Royal Pains’ who was wearing a gorgeous red dress with tiny gold-stud detailing in the front. When I asked Shetty her thoughts on the collection she said “The line is so wearable, [BCBG designer] Max Azria really knows how to make a woman look beautiful!” and continued “I love BCBG, it’s what I’m wearing right now”. Last word on the BCBG line: my personal favorite is the pink one-shoulder dress that is opening all the media discussions on the traditional BCBG customer. It’s chic, sexy and pretty. Very BCBG.The morning continued with Madrid 
designer David Delfin’s presentation, a collection I would title ‘Pushing the envelope on shades of green and blue’. Most of his models had hair dyed in a bright glowy orange - the rogue models were quite a sight early in the morning when I arrived at the Tents and made me cringe that perhaps I had missed the boat on the latest hair trend! - and the shoes were by shoe god Christian Louboutin. As a bit of inside info, apparently Manolo Blahnik is no longer the designer of choice for those trendsetting ‘Sex and the City’ girls. He’s been ousted and replaced promptly by Monsieur Louboutin. Red soled creatures of the world, unite! The David Delfin collection had some strong looks - the finale dress, a navy blue strapless jersey gown was red carper worthy but also wearable cool - but I would have to try the clothes on with my own simple brown - albeit not as trendy - hair color. It is definitely a collection NOT for the wallflowers!
designer David Delfin’s presentation, a collection I would title ‘Pushing the envelope on shades of green and blue’. Most of his models had hair dyed in a bright glowy orange - the rogue models were quite a sight early in the morning when I arrived at the Tents and made me cringe that perhaps I had missed the boat on the latest hair trend! - and the shoes were by shoe god Christian Louboutin. As a bit of inside info, apparently Manolo Blahnik is no longer the designer of choice for those trendsetting ‘Sex and the City’ girls. He’s been ousted and replaced promptly by Monsieur Louboutin. Red soled creatures of the world, unite! The David Delfin collection had some strong looks - the finale dress, a navy blue strapless jersey gown was red carper worthy but also wearable cool - but I would have to try the clothes on with my own simple brown - albeit not as trendy - hair color. It is definitely a collection NOT for the wallflowers!As with everything in life, it’s all about quality not quantity for me, so I felt that finishing the day on a high note, at the Mara Hoffman/Nicholas K/Whitney Eve triple presentation was perfect. I often feel that after the fourth or fifth show, I begin blending all the looks together and creating a mish-mosh of fashion that does not do anyone, least of all the designers, any good.
The couple behind Nicholas K delivered 
more of what impressed me so much last season. They continued to tell the story they began with Fall 09, which is such a smart and fresh concept to deliver to their customer, those men and women who have come to expect simple elegance and casual chic from the brand. Too often, a season is phenomenal for a particular brand, but their concept goes away in the follow-up and the loyal following created is lost. My compliments also go out to the team behind People’s Revolution - led by the No. 1 hip chick Kelly Cutrone, wearing a pair of rockin’ gold-heeled black leather boots! - for their inventive presentation, fresh concept and great loyalty and support to those who have been behind their clients for the past few seasons.
more of what impressed me so much last season. They continued to tell the story they began with Fall 09, which is such a smart and fresh concept to deliver to their customer, those men and women who have come to expect simple elegance and casual chic from the brand. Too often, a season is phenomenal for a particular brand, but their concept goes away in the follow-up and the loyal following created is lost. My compliments also go out to the team behind People’s Revolution - led by the No. 1 hip chick Kelly Cutrone, wearing a pair of rockin’ gold-heeled black leather boots! - for their inventive presentation, fresh concept and great loyalty and support to those who have been behind their clients for the past few seasons. So, Nicholas K gave us great nylon bags, bright metallic pouches, beatiful Madras print cotton dresses and shirts and the coolest accessory
of the day - a packable byard, which is simply a synthetic coat hidden inside a cool shoulder bag. Then the duo behind the Mara Hoffman brand promised to bring out the sexy, confident woman in all of us, with flowy, beautiful dresses and stunning prints. Their signature look - a printed jersey top with matching printed leggings - came out sixth in the line-up and I breathed a sigh of relief. When it was followed throughout the presentation with gypsy-inspired gowns, cool dresses and the finale Black Clouds net back gown, I knew this was another collection that would please the Mara Hoffman customer. And those accents - like bulky black and cream tone-on-tone resin bracelets, purple suede shoes and beaded black and white details on jersey dresses - truly blew me away. The Mara Hoffman woman should begin saving her money now, I foresee a Spring filled with purchases…
of the day - a packable byard, which is simply a synthetic coat hidden inside a cool shoulder bag. Then the duo behind the Mara Hoffman brand promised to bring out the sexy, confident woman in all of us, with flowy, beautiful dresses and stunning prints. Their signature look - a printed jersey top with matching printed leggings - came out sixth in the line-up and I breathed a sigh of relief. When it was followed throughout the presentation with gypsy-inspired gowns, cool dresses and the finale Black Clouds net back gown, I knew this was another collection that would please the Mara Hoffman customer. And those accents - like bulky black and cream tone-on-tone resin bracelets, purple suede shoes and beaded black and white details on jersey dresses - truly blew me away. The Mara Hoffman woman should begin saving her money now, I foresee a Spring filled with purchases… The evening belonged to Fashion’s Night Out, with events happening all throughout the city. From Macy’s with Michael Kors and Debra Messing, to Little Italy with those Rockstars of shoes Shane & Shawn, to Desi band Red Baraat playing at the Ports 1961 shop in Meatpacking, to the Teen Vogue happening downtown, NYC was one giant block party. I hope you got to enjoy some of it and stay tuned for more updates from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
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