Coquette Goes To Fashion Week!

imageSince last Wednesday, I’ve gotten a little glimpse of life as a fashion editor in NY. Here’s me at the tents before my first in-person fashion show, Ports 1961. I’m wearing a fitted Max Studio black dress I got from Bloomingdale’s, black DKNY tights, Elizabeth and James pumps (wrote about those here), Marc Jacobs handbag, and a leather trench coat I got from The Limited 9 years ago. Before I dive in, a huge thank you to everyone at Coach for making the trip possible for me in the first place. It’s going to take me another day to get my photos organized and uploaded so here’s a few highlights of my trip. Click here to see more of Coquette’s fabulous fashion adventures in New York City!

New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Alice + Olivia

imageAlice + Olivia is always high on my must-see list during Fashion Week. The amazing clothes, the fabulous Payless shoes that prove affordable can be fabulous, the creative set-ups and designs (previous themes have been “Alice in Wonderland,” “Breakfast In Bed,” “Hippie Queen,” etc), and the celebrity sightings– it’s always a blast! To present the Alice + Olivia Spring 2010 collection, designer Stacie Bendet transformed a raw New York City gallery space into a fashion presentation/rock concert. Inside the vast space were three sections with a group of models in each. The looks were absolutely stunning, as always, and combined uptown chic with a downtown edge and an underlying Parisian-chic sensibility. Stacey set out to represent girls “predicating sexuality, cleverness and charm,” drawing inspiration from the women who influence her. This season also marked the unveiling of the collaboration between A+O and jewelry line Erickson Beamon (I seriously want all of it!). Soft colors such as pale pink, soft purple, and neutrals were amped up with sexy silhouettes and gorgeous draping while other looks teamed ultra-femme styles with more edgy and androgynous pieces. Pretty prints, sequined frocks, slouchy pants, and structured jackets were also standouts, especially this one look that teamed an ultra mini slinky sequined dress with a short sleeved metallic jacket– amazing! Click the slideshow to see pictures from the celeb-filled presentation.

Color Palette: pink, purple, gold, white
Celebs: Jared Leto, Kristen Cavallari, Shenae Grimes, Lindsay Lohan, Ashley Greene, Kelly Rutherford, Annalynne McCord

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New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Zac Posen

imageDespite being moved from his usual prime-time spot in Bryant Park’s main tent, Zac Posen’s Spring/Summer 2010 show hardly suffered in the slightly quieter Altman Building — even at 9 in the morning. His assortment of party frocks (with a couple relaxed pantsuits thrown into the mix) seemed even more youthful and fun in the building’s less stuffy surroundings, and with the collection’s refreshing prints and energetic color combinations — lime with fuchsia, lemon yellow with salmon pink — Posen couldn’t have started the morning off on a livelier note! While the designer is always expected to show off a gaggle of fun cocktail dresses every season, this particular selection somehow seemed especially modern and unique — maybe due to its overall futuristic stewardess/Judy Jetson vibe. And to amp up the flirt factor, he even embellished certain ensembles with metallic lip print cut-outs, a detail that served like a cherry on top of a super-chic sundae. Take a gander at the slideshow for a peek at the collection!

Trends: colorblocked dresses, cut-outs, interlocking patterns, asymmetrical hemlines, mirror embellishments, stewardess-inspired
Celebrity Sightings: Anna Wintour, Amy Astley, Genevieve Jones, Rachel Zoe
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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NYFW Backstage Beauty: Vena Cava

imageVena Cava’s spring 2010 show brought together MAC makeup artist Lloyd Simmonds and Beauty.com hairstylist Ted Gibson, where together they created a sophisticated yet updated look to compliment the collection. With the use of black visors and dark sunglasses, Gibson stayed away from an uptight ballerina ponytail and went for a textured one instead, showing off the girls’ dual personalities while Simmonds created a violet lip (can we mention he made the shade himself!) for a graphic feel to balance out the look.
Click here for a step-by-step guide to get the hair and makeup looks!

New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Lacoste

imageWhile Fashion Week’s weather has been becoming increasingly blustery, Lacoste’s Spring/Summer 2010 show provided a much-needed vacay for its audience, channeling the carefree, sunshine-y vibe of a summer beach day with its boardwalk-inspired runway. With one main focus in mind- simple, sporty chic- the collection managed to be straightforward and effortless while still maintaining the bright and playful energy we’ve grown to expect from the brand. The models donned updated versions of classic tennis-inspired pieces like mesh sneakers, polo dresses, and cuffed shorts, but also threw in some unexpected twists, like hooded rompers, tailored blazers, and chic summery dresses that added a resort-like relaxed style to the brand’s usual polished, prep school flavor. Take a look at the slideshow for a glimpse at some of the looks to come this spring!

Trends: Saturated colors, pleated skirts, linen shorts, denim, hooded jumpsuits
Celebrity Sightings: Mischa Barton, Hayden Christensen, Peaches Geldof, Alice Dellal
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Whitney Eve

imageFor her Spring/Summer 2010 Whitney Eve collection, Whitney Port seemed to use herself as a muse. Every single looked screamed “Whitney” and for someone like me who adores Whitney’s style, that’s definitely a good thing! This collection merged a downtown New York edge with a sweet and sunny California girl sensibility. Just like Whitney, it was very eclectic, funky, and had a retro reference point which was re-interpreted to create a modern feel. I absolutely died over this one slinky, metallic number! Other standouts included a cut-out brocade mini dress with a bow accent (such a great way to balance naughty and nice!) and a strapless full-skirted black dress with layers of tulle peeping through. Almost every style was adorned with ultra femme accents — ruffles, bows, tulle, lace — but the sweetness was definitely offset by sexy silhouettes and styles. Whitney also presented some fabulous separates, including a sharp-shouldered peplum jacket, a black blazer updated with layered of ruffles, and an oversized metallic blazer. Overall, anyone who loves Whitney’s style will absolutely flip over all the pieces in her Whitney Eve line — check the slideshow to see for yourself!

Color Palette: White, black, gold, silver
Trends: Sequins, ruffles, bows, pastel prints
Celeb Sightings: Olivia Palermo, Amy Astley
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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New York Fashion Week Spring 2010: Herve Leger

imageI was very pleasantly surprised by the Herve Leger Spring 2010 collection. This season, designer Max Azria really pushed the boundaries of the possibilities of the bandage dress, experimenting with new styles and techniques. The collection had a more bohemian vibe to it which offset the stiffness of the signature bandage silhouette, adding a more free-spirited sensibility. The color palette was mostly neutral and all looks contained some form of clever crafting. Notting, braiding, beading, crocheting, the bandage dress got a seriously fantastic makeover this season. Some of the looks were topped off with retro-inspired jackets which added to the more fuss-free vibe of this season’s collection. For the more self-conscious, there were styles that weren’t strictly body-con including two flair dresses with crochet detail and another look which teamed a corset top with a printed chiffon flared skirt. There were also a few denim patchwork dresses that are a lot more flaw-forgiving than some of the classic styles. I also almost died over the black beaded styles which had a glam-rock edge to them that I can never resist. Overall, Mr. Azria really delivered and introduced something new that still maintained the Herve integrity. Click the slideshow to see more from Herve Leger at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Key Colors: white, black, indigo, nude, pearl, gold, gunmetal
Celeb Sightings: Mischa Barton, Amanda Bynes, Hilary Duff, Marisa Miller

Photo credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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New York Fashion Week Spring 2010: Diane von Furstenberg

imageI always come away from a Diane von Furstenberg show (ok, ok, a DvF “picture viewing”) with more ideas than both my head and wallet can handle: tons of hair accessory inspiration, the sudden urge mix patterns without abandon, and perhaps most notably, a completely overstuffed wish list. Her Spring/Summer 2010 show at New York Fashion Week was no exception- the looks presented a highly wearable, more elegant take on globetrotter style with looks ranging from printed dresses layered under belted safari jackets to saturated desert-hued separates in a variety of textures, all topped off with colorful bangles and the most playfully whimsical hairpieces. Her use of patterns was astoundingly imaginative- blurry florals, gilded ethnic designs, and slightly abstract animal prints made for a collection that was adventurous and refined all at once, not to mention realistic– whether intentional or not, the idea of layering a simple grey tee under an embellished dress exhibits the kind of stylish versatility we can all appreciate these days. Click on the slideshow to see more from Diane von Furstenberg at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Trends: safari and ethnic-inspired, animal prints, saturated colors, rich texture
Celebs: Blake Lively, Candice Bergen, Andre Balazs, Rachel Zoe, Peaches Geldof, Michelle Trachtenberg, Terry Richardson, Shenae Grimes\
Photo credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Charlotte Ronson

imageFor her Spring 2010 show at New York Fashion Week, Charlotte Ronson drew inspiration from the ballerinas of New York circa 1980- a reference point which actually made for a really amazing collection! Each look contrasted the sweet and airy with the tough and edgy. Ethereal pieces in ballet-pink and white abounded and all were toughened up with punk-rock studs, acid-washed jeans and tops, boyfriend shirts and jackets, and killer leather platforms. Even as the color palette shifted to edgier shades such as black and cerulean, the dancer-off-duty motif stayed intact with delicate sheer pieces, loose layers, and tulle incorporated into almost every look, either by being wrapped around the legs or hanging loosely off the side. I especially loved the way these looks were put together and how disparate items were able to co-exist seamlessly. A crinkled blush chiffon top with a black studded sleeveless blazer and army green distressed shorts, a double breasted pantsuit with a plaid boyfriend shirt and a splattered army jacket, a beaded one-shoulder dress with an acid-wash leather vest- there were no limitations when it came to mixing and matching. The leather shorts, distressed jackets, sharp blazers, sheer tops, floaty dresses- this collection was chock-full of fabulous pieces and has something for everyone.

Trends: voluminous shoulders, crop tops, acid wash, sheer fabrics
Celebs: Nicky Hilton, Jessica Stroup, Riley Keough, Richard Simmons, Samantha Ronson (she DJ’d the show)

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New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010: Mara Hoffman

imageMara Hoffman put on an exceptionally colorful show (along with co-presenters and fellow People’s Revolution designers Nicholas K and Whitney Port) on day two of the Spring/Summer 2010 shows at New York Fashion Week. Elegantly draped watercolor maxidresses and super short voluminous minis added variety to the bohemian-inspired collection, which also featured masculine elements like boyfriend blazers and tuxedo jackets. Noteworthy looks included a not quite neon yellow ruched mini paired with a floaty printed top, and a beautifully constructed resort style gown paired with tough-chic gladiator heels. Body-conscious skirts, one-shouldered dresses, and tribally influenced patterns don’t seem to be going away anytime soon, but when they look this good, why should they? Click the slideshow to see more from Mara Hoffman at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week.

Celebs: various cast members from “The City,” singer Amerie
Trends: one shouldered minidresses, tribal prints, subtle pleating/draping
Photo credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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