New York Fashion Week

- February 16th, 2010.
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February 16

Badgley Mischka hit the runway with winter white in the form of a heavy woollen sweater paired with tight white pants. After a few similar casual seasonal outfits they moved onto their dress section that featured their lower priced contemporary line called Mark & James launched last year. It showcased mostly shiny black short dresses. They closed with their red carpet eveningwear creations that made designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka famous for dressing celebrities around the world.

After a year of not showing at Bryant Park, opting to locate to her Soho boutique instead, Vera Wang returned to the tents in a big way with lots of new ideas. Wang’s namesake line, not to be confused with her separate Bridal Business, gives her the opportunity to explore edgier possibilities. The designer has said many times in the past that she considers herself an artist first. The almost exclusively black collection featured mostly tops with tight fitting pants, short skirts and dresses. But Wang introduced some interesting textures including leather, lace and furs. The most interesting aspect was her asymmetric use of different drapings and shoulders for almost every piece.

Diesel introduced sub-brand Black Gold for both men and women in 2008. The luxury denim offshoot features a unique black label. This year’s collection consisted of many fashionable pieces made from refined fabrics with unexpected details and special treatments. It was a deconstructed extreme nonconformist experience but with discrete charm and elegance. Celebrities in attendance were Nicole Richie, Renzo Rossi, Kate Bozworth and Lara Stone.

Max Azria is one of three labels run by husband and wife team Max and Lubov Azria. The others being BCBGMaxAzaria and Hervé Léger with both featuring bandage skirts this season. In contrast Max Azria went with looks that were roomier and flowing and more conventional in their approach. Though not quite 1980’s it suggested that era without the padded boxy shoulders and extreme volumes. With a color palate that was exclusively beige, black and gray hemlines were mostly below the knee. Singer Estelle and actress Melissa George were in the audience.

G-Star RAW the Dutch clothing company specializing in high fashion raw denim is always a favourite during fashion week. Cleverly styled and produced the show was held at the Hammerstein Ballroom on a brightly light elevated multi directional runway. The opening sequence that consisted of canary yellow oversized jackets accessorised by rubber gloves made the models look like they were a road crew working for the electric company. That is the type of ironic chic the creators just love. The eclectic brand has a special eye for usual details and embellishments. Spotted in the front row were Kelly Osbourne, John Legend, Tyson Beckford, Liv Tyler and Estelle.