When it's all said and done...

New York fashion week is over, but that doesn't mean I haven't forgotten about these last two days. I've been busy working on a fashion week article for the Baylor newspaper. Check back for recaps of the last two days in the coming ones. In the mean time head over to the Lariat webpage for my article! Get it here.

On the sixth day of fashion week

With Marc by Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson's collections showing today, I would say the sixth day was a party (even though the Marc Jacobs/Gaga party was last night...) Enjoy!

Badgely Mischka (look 25)
The mostly black and white collection comes out perfectly polite. It's classy and has a number of wearable items including some mega-cute cocktail dresses. Pops of orangey-red and pink keep it lively, but to be honest this show could fade into the background.
Rodarte (look 17)
Neutrals pop up here too. The sisters Mulleavey design with a gothic Tim Burton-esque hand, but still keep it in the Rodarte aesthetic. It also has a tribal feel to it. Kate and Laura succeed in creating their own world.
Halston (look 5)
With an airyness about it, this collection is one of the many solidifying the return of the romper and the jumpsuit for next year. All of the pieces from this line have movement and a point of view.

Marc by Marc Jacobs (look 21)
If yesterday's show was dainty and soft, today's was the exact opposite: loud and colorful. The Minnie Mouse bow is making a comeback - in bold colors (think hot pink and electric blue) and just a little askew.
Betsey Johnson
The queen of party frocks delivers yet another collection of youthful and girly dresses. Part of me felt like I was going through the stylist's trailer on the set of "Saved by the Bell" and another part of me wished to be at the coolest sweet-16 party ever.

On the fifth day of fashion week

On this fifth day of fashion week I've realized how much I really want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to report on fashion. I've found my calling, does this mean I can move to New York right now?

A side note: sorry these pics are so small lately, I've been grabbing them from NYMag and style.com. For some reason they are just not loading as big as the ones in previous posts. My apologies.

Zac Posen (look 39)
The progression of this particular collection has me thinking of what Judy Jetson would wear as she travels to Earth from her futuristic, intergalactic space.
Carolina Herrera (look 26)
I heard more about the bloody ball gown, animal head guy on 6th Ave. than what happened inside the tent. But what happened inside the tent will be all over the red carpet, I guarantee it. Intricate beading and the most interesting necklines I've seen yet. Not to mention some really great textures.
Donna Karan (look 8)
Donna Karan makes the thought of living life in shades of gray really enticing with splashes of orange. DK really understands the female body and draping. She also understands that her consumers will more than likely be 30- and 40-something women, who are sure to love this line.

Tracy Reese (look 27)
I got a really youthful and playful vibe from this collection. It's very girly and just has a great energy to it.
Marc Jacobs (looks 8 and 30)
There is an undeniable 1940s feel to this, which I'm a total sucker for, so of course love! Also a hint of the Gaga movement, a few looks sans pants, but with really cute frilly knickers. Lots of ruffles, not a bad thing in my book. Overall a very satisfying collection. I wish I could have seen it in person! It also looks like he wants fanny packs to come back. No comment.

Jill Stuart (look 3)
More illusion fabric and interesting necklines. Cut outs galore. Super short skirts (I'm pretty sure I saw cheek on look 28, from the front...). Strong shoulders.

On the fourth day of fashion week

Fashion week does not rest on the day of rest. And for that I am glad. Day four, kids!

Lela Rose (look 31)
A sea of perfectly pretty dresses. The separates didn't impress me as much as the dresses. Classic silhouettes with asymmetry and eye-catching gathers.

Derek Lam (look 20)
Another designer looked into my floral dreams delivered. But he didn't get there until the last third of the collection. The transition from polka dots to solids to stars to florals didn't read very cohesive in my book, but it is a very appealing spring line.
Diane von Furstenberg (look 25)
Let me first say that DVF can do no wrong in my eyes. This exotic collection would outfit any desert goddess. Bright colors and the always exciting and enticing patterns. Same DVF, new season.
Herve Leger (look 11)
Another line that never fails to impress me. I still plan to have a few Herve Leger pieces in my closet when I'm rich and famous, and this spring line definitely solidifies that decision. Plus Mr. Max Azria tried his hand at bondage denim. It works.

On the third day of fashion week

Everything seems to be on hold this week. I'm not kidding. I don't think I've ever put my world on pause for something like I have fashion week this time around (and I must say it's completely due to my dedication to blogging and addiction to twitter/tweed). Here's my day three recap, my friend Erika came over halfway through and we ooed and aaahed at the collections together.

ADAM (look 1)
@mrjoezee summed it up the best in only 117 characters "Hey ladies: please invest in a thin knit racer back tank or henley from Adam this spring and wear it with EVERYTHING."
Richard Chai (look 7)
The colors for this collection stem from the one recurring print made into dresses and tanks, paired with jackets, jumpers and the oddest looking shoes. The shoes I can do without.
Christian Siriano (look 27)
Erika and I called this his "fire and ice" collection. I think I could sit and just click - forward and backward - through this show. It's so perfectly put together and seamless. Each look grows out of the one before it. And there's still the drama there that makes something a Christian Siriano piece.
Vivenne Tam (look 13)
Erika says she would wear every single item from this collection. Kind of like my similar moment clicking through Jason Wu yesterday. Anyway. This was very 60's-70's bohemian that just came out of its cocoon.

Alexander Wang (look 6)
Rugby-inspired: knits, leather, no-pants, cutouts, sheerness, underwear-as-outerwear. Erika says 90's. I agree. Love the braid! We both dropped jaw at look 6 in particular.
Band of Outsiders (look 4)
We say New England prep with an urban appeal. The first thing that came to my mind was this video of the Smirnoff Tea Party, watch it if you haven't yet. We like the green pants.

On the second day of fashion week

I'm guess that no one else reads the titles of these fashion week blogs to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" like I do. It really is the best time of the year. I'm definitely feeling the holiday spirit!

Anyway, on this second day of NY fashion week I kept up with everyone's tweets like nobody's business (same with last night and FNO, so wish I could have been there too!). MBfashionweek.com is not keeping me updated with all of the shows and style.com won't post today's pics until tomorrow morning... so needless to say posting everyday will prove interesting. So far I've found images for Jason Wu, Preen and many others found on mbfashionweek.com. There's a good chance I'll have even more tomorrow.

Cynthia Rowley (look 28)
I think I can best describe this line as prim and proper Connecticut chic. Tennis whites and luncheon buttoned collars and pretty cardigans.
Rag & Bone (look 4)
Androgyny abounds! I would take more than just a few of these jackets.

Preen (look 17)
The neutral color pallette and subtle, relaxed feminity allows this collection to stand out without trying too hard. It's so natural and effortless. I'm a fan.
Jason Wu (looks 14, 18)
After hearing all about the mirrored runway and the falls, I was just itching to see the images! Let me say right now that I want every single look from Mr. Wu's Spring 2010 line. I instantly fell in love with look 18 - can I borrow it for my semi formal this fall? In all seriousness though, this collection is everything I want in my closet as a young professional.
Cynthia Steffe (look 1)
As funny as it sounds, I totally had a dream last night about collections showing lots of florals (a la Carrie Bradshaw), so you can imagine my happiness when I saw these images and saw lots of florals. I don't think someone can click through this collection without smiling. So excited for Spring 2010!
Yigal Azrouel (look 3)
Another fairly neutral color pallete! I don't have too much to say about this one, but I think I like it. It's growing on me every time I go back to that tab in my browser. Yeah. I like it.
Charlotte Ronson (look 8)
I think I can sum up this collection by just listing the trends: sheer tops with pretty bra tops, bows at the waist, sheer half legging things, leather jackets.

Nicole Miller (look 4)
There is a (strong) chance I chose this look because it's Ali Michael - she died her hair!!!, but I also think it is a really good representative image of the collection. Long, walking/legging type shorts, blocked graphic print and either black or white.

Erin Wasson x RVCA (look 20)
There's no questioning why the models walked out in front of a band, these clothes were made to be worn at a concert.

After today, I think it's safe to say that leather jackets will be around for at least another season. But really, when are leather jackets not a staple?

On the first day of fashion week

During Fashion Week I've decided I'm going to blog about my single favorite look from the days' shows. Here to kick it off are my favs from Michael Angel, BCBG, Davidelfin, Duckie Brown and Whitney Eve (because they had picks up on mbfashionweek.com when I sat down at my macbook).

Michael Angel (look 9)
I'm usually not a huge fan of futuristic fashions, but this particular collection really changed my opinion there. This line manages to marry structure and flowing chiffon with kaleidescope patterns that just blow my mind. In my opinion, this was a great show to kick the week off with. My favorite collection so far.

BCBGMAXAZRIA (look 13)
Cutblog: Spring at BCBG, as only it could be: tight n short n sheer, w/ some cutout action. Learn to love your bodies now. When I saw that tweet, this is exactly what I pictured. With all of the Illusion fabric, cutouts, and short hemlines I'm sure glad for my aerobics class this semester - I need to get in shape for next spring. I didn't expect the asymmetry. Love!
Davidelfin (look 16)
Menswear for women has long been one of my favorite trends, so my love of this particular look really needs no further explanation. Except that on top of that it's just a really sick design. Gowns are out, @rzrachelzoe I want to see this on the red carpet.

Duckie Brown (look 7)
Ok, so for a relatively cohesive collection, this one is pretty random. (I applaud you if you followed the thought process to that statement). Picking a favorite look from this line was like trying to pick the lesser of two evils: really hard. And not in a good way. Even though this is my fav look, I'm not sold on it.
Whitney Eve (look 2)
This one was really a toss up between looks 2 and 9. I loved ths structure of the collection's jackets paired with the femininity of the dresses. It's like Whit had Texas in mind when she was sketching this line. The light and airy dresses are perfect for the summer/fall season in the crazy heat, while the jackets are great for the arctic chill you get walking into a building down here.

P.S. I'm loving all the tweets, they make me feel like I'm on the front row of every show!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Can I just say how much I love Joe Zee? He's my idol. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. And this upcoming week more than ever I can't wait to read every single one of his tweets. After getting twitpic'd and update after update from the couture shows in July I absolutely can not wait until shows start at the end of the week! The only way this time of year could get better is if I was in New York. Thank God for @mrjoezee, @itsmechaneliman, @fashionista_com, @mrbradgoreski, @cutblog, @womensweardaily, @csiriano, @elle_com and so many more!

Another thing I don't think I could live without is the new Nordstrom Rack that opened back home. I went home for the long weekend and found the most perfect leather jacket. It has lapels, a diagonal zip and extra zipper details - all the things I said I wanted in a leather jacket. The only bummer was that one lapel was bent wrong. I let that little issue cloud my better judgement and I passed on the $169 Michael Kors jacket on Saturday (idiot!). However after having a few fashiongasms while talking to a girlfriend I realized the error of my ways. I called my mom and she made a trip to buy the jacket for me. Needless to say I owe her, and I can't wait until she comes down to visit in a few weeks so I can have full possession of my new jackets. I don't like to play favorites with my clothes, but if I did this jacket would definitely be at the top of my list. I'm floating on a sartorial cloud nine right now.

Here's hoping...

Maybe it's because all of the old movies/movies set in an earlier decade that I'm watching lately. Maybe it's that I wish I was from a decade in which this was as common as text messaging. Or maybe it's because I adore Anne Hathaway and Scarlett Johansson.

Whatever the reason, I'm nostalgic for statement red lips.

It's such an easy, but gratifying, bold and timeless way to look pulled together. I don't think any other single beauty product can say as much. A woman just looks so much more feminine when she is wearing a strong red lip. I would love nothing more than to see more women adopt this trend. In fact, I wouldn't even call it a trend, it's more an eternal style. I can't even say how much I would love to see statement lips come down the runway next week. Here's hoping. And here are a few images.

Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds)

Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds)
Audrey Hepburn (Funny Face)
Anne Hathaway (Devil Wears Prada)
Scarlett Johansson

When I'm rich and famous

Derek Lam, A/W 2009, look 18

I will have a cape. Not in the super hero, ready-to-save-the-day kind of way, but in the high fashion kind of way. I was flipping through the pages of my September Elle (still on the first read, too) and on page 272 my jaw dropped. Lust at first sight. In the Elle Shops Fall's Must-Haves section, no. 2 is the cape. Examples were drawn from Valentino, D&G, Celine and Derek Lam's collections. I would just like everyone to know that when I am creative director somewhere I will have a cape and wear it proudly. The cape has an air about it that lends itself to being worn by someone really special. I don't deem myself worthy of the cape yet, but someday I will be.

Diverging just a tad, I very much dislike how my magazines have been playing hard to get like they learned it from me. The first two weeks of the new semester have been jam-packed with not enough time to cuddle up with a copy of Elle or W and a glass of wine.