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Fashion Week Spring '07. 3.1 Phillip Lim. In Heaven. Second City Style Fashion Blog

The ideal white dress (in my mind) are those Phillip Lim showed for his Spring '07 collection September 10, 2006, aptly themed, Everything's Coming Up Roses.

The mostly white collection did have a few shocks of color. There were shifts with rosettes, dresses with pleating, and jackets with cording and deconstructed gowns. Phillip Lim has perfected making beautifully elegant dresses.

Color Palette: white, white and more white, creme, ecru, colbolt blue, pink, purple, green, yellow and marigold floral print.

Key looks: white t-shirt dress with rosettes, a blouse of crepe de chine, cotton voile strapless bell dress, white linen bubble coat with three rosettes, sequined jumper, matador vest and jacket, colbolt blue pleated dress, blue chunky ankle-wrapped sandals, apple green and light blue handbags.

Photos from Style.com taken by  Marcio Madeira

Fashion Week Spring '07. Blog Wrap Up. Second City Style Fashion Blog

Admittedly, we couldn't be there for it all...so we didn't want you to miss a beat. Here are blog entries we love that covered the shows, we did not. These were culled together by Lesley at Fashiontribes. If something seems left out, search a little...it was covered on this blog...somewhere.

The new & colorful smokey eye. Beauty Addict
Cobalt blue at Oscar de la Renta, DKNY, Ruffian, Cynthia Steffe and Maria Cornejo. A possible color trend this upcoming spring/summer season? Le Fashionista
Designer wife beaters...why? - Stylebites   
The return of the lip! Beauty Addict
Predictions for Spring 2007. - Aesthetics + Economics
Not so mellow yellow on the runways. Beauty Addict
The long shadow of Miuccia Prada. Fashionologie
In the bag - NYC Fashionweek bag roundup. Bag Snob
Makeup history repeats itself. Beauty Addict

FASHIONWEEK DISH & DETRIUS:
Two words: Tim Gunn! - Beauty Addict
Fashionweek show gatecrashing 101 - Stylebites
The JoJo Meter, aka, when celeb seating really matters as singer JoJo discovers. - Stylebites
Further notes on the Fashion show Foodchain. Fashionologie
Backstage interview with Tia Cibani of Ports 1961. Omiru
 Fashion week sponsor LYCRA wraps a bum right with the perfect skinny jean. Stylebites
Two Time Loser Makes Good: Project Runway's Daniel Franco. The Shophound
Even Cathy Horyn sings the "you're not invited to our show" blues. The Budget Fashionista

ALICE ROI
A real Punk-Rock soundtrack created an edgy mood as the emotionless models zipped down the u-shaped runway at a hurried pace in green portrait tees, navy rhodoid dresses, double belted skirts and embroidered poppy stolen sleeve shirts. Trashionista

ANGEL CHANG
Brought technology to the world of high-fashion with amazing prints silkscreened with special inks that either changed colors or  appeared / disappeared as well as fashion forward iPod jackets. Coquette

ATIL KOTUGLU
Guess who's coming to dinner? Filmy drapey caftans - Fashiontribes Daily
Gorgeous summer outfits with shimmer & shine for warm weather destinations such as the Hamptons or Malibu - Girlawhirl
Long, lean & layered silhouettes, featuring rich pashmina shawls tied around the neck, and fitted pieces paired with loose tunic-inspired jackets & outwear in an array of dusty pastels, sparkling blues & orange/reds & neutrals. Omiru

BABY PHAT by KIMORA LEE SIMMONS
A singularly chic belted purse & a double chic you could stuff an Olsen twin into. - Kristopher Dukes
It's Adam Ant meets Billy Idol hair. The Beauty Newsletter
Every single piece looks like a Glamour "don't." Who is funding this stupid line of clothing now that she's separated from Russell Simmons? Bag Snob

BILL BLASS
An A-list crowd & fabulous matte jersey made for a wow-worthy show. - Girlawhirl
Glide through galas, luncheons & red carpet fabulousness with stylish ease. - Fashiontribes Daily
Veered between slavishly copying the archives to an appealingly modern ease for day & evening. The Shophound

 BETSEY JOHNSON
Polka dots, ruffles and balloons, oh my. The show was exciting, colorful-well very Betsey culminating with an on stage duet with Pat Fields (includes behind the scenes scoop). - Bagtrends.com
Girlie-girl clothes full of flirty fun details & Betty Boop-like chic. - Girlawhirl
  Having emotional ties to - & having loved Betsey Johnson for a very long time - she is not only admirable as a designer, but as a person. We can only hope to be as energetic & interesting at her age. Trashionista
 Models sported fun and flirty dresses, and ruffles were everywhere. Some volume did appear, but this collection was at its core about flirty femininity. Omiru
The 40's touch in the air with  classic vintage inspired hair and makeup. The Beauty Newsletter
And for fun: guess who's the "next" Betsey Johnson. - Trashionista

CHAIKEN
Satin & shine for daytime! - Girlawhirl
Our (wo)man in Panama...a Panama hat, that is, and slouchy easy-breezy chic. Fashiontribes Daily
The season's trends distilled into easy & chic wearability. The Shophound

CLOAK
Alexandre Plokhov's dark sense of humor and almost gothic style on the runway translated once again into an excellently tailored and darkly rock-funk elegant collection. Omiru

COSTELLO TAGLIAPIETRA
Delicate elegance in excellently draped silks & sweetly simple dresses with fluttery sleeves, sparkly beading in understated hues of grey, pink, lavender, peach, salmon & orange. Omiru

A respite from the 80s/60s/mod/architectural vibe of the season with sleek jersey in classic knee-skimming silhouettes. The Shophound

CYNTHIA STEFFE
Dresses, dresses & more cute dresses. - Fashiontribes Daily
Check out a backstage interview - Omiru
Whimsical, fun, and inspired by Catherine Deneuve & Bridget Bardot. The Quest for "it"

DKNY
Unfailing street chic. I Am Fashion

GUSTAVO ARANGO
Gustavo Arango Costumes the Life I Want to Lead Full of Party Dresses & Red Carpet Gowns. -  Fashiontribes Daily
Gustavo Arango gravitates from the rigid structure of fall into a playful movement that is spring. - Bagtrends.com
Carolina Herrera's favorite up-and-coming designer makes a splash in New York. Aesthetics + Economics

HEATHERETTE
Ah, vacation! Camp out on a remote desert island with a pack of sexy ragamuffins. Fashiontribes Daily
Heatherette strayed from the volume trend and with cuts that read tighter and sexier. The most notable trend at Heatherette, besides the mixing of hues, was uneven cuts. Omiru

JAY McCARROLL
Edgy, daring & unique, and marked with a personal sense of style. Bagtrends
Sexy, time-traveling beehive-coiffed space aliens drop in & party down the runway. Fashiontribes Daily

JEANISIS BY ANAND JON
Urban city and bolllywood-chic collide. Bagtrends.com
Sexy streetwear with a kick theme in motion and a splash of international flair. The Quest for "it"

JENNI KANE
The volume trend takes a turn for baring it all. Omiru.com
Great shapes, fabrics, colors & gorgeous makeup. - Beauty Addict
Look no further than Jenni Kayne for the perfect babydoll dress or candy colored leather jacket. Aesthetics + Economics

JILL STUART
Pretty, fashionable & sweet, walking the line fusing sexiness & innocence. Aesthetics + Economics

J. MENDEL
The fashion-fur King, J Mendel, showed red-carpet winners certain to grace the pages of fashion magazines and the bodies of many starlets. Bagtrends
A definite emphasis on the use of chevrons and intricate origami designs combined with discs and this season's favorite, pleats. Omiru

LELA ROSE
Famous for dressing the twin Bush offspring, Rose adapted her signature feminine details to the prevailing shapes of the season including A-line smocks with ruffles, trapunto, tatted lace & metallic touches. The Shophound

LUELLA
Prints with preppy items with a lot to like. I Am Fashion

MALO
Lots of hip trapeze mini-dresses & super cool platform heels, oversized patent leather bowling bags, circular stone embellishment, patent leather cottons, and styling by Vogue's Camilla Nickerson. Girlawhirl

MONIQUE LHUILLIER
Nighttime glamour rules the runway. - Girlawhirl
Paging old world glamour goddesses - your wardrobe has arrived. - Fashiontribes Daily
Solid jerseys & chiffons punctuated with heavily jeweled waists & necklines. The Shophound

MARCHESAA debut collection of gorgeous gowns worth getting out of bed for. I Am Fashion

MARC BY MARC JACOBS
Cheeky chic platform & sock combinations done right. Kristopher Dukes
A completely lovable collection of wearable, loveable clothes. I Am Fashion

MICHON SCHUR
The look of the collection was sweet and serene & as an added bonus, fab model Irina Lazareanu started the show off wearing a silk linen rose print strapless dress with bustier. Trashionista

NAEEM KHAN
Naeem Khan highlights softly waved hair to bring back romantic elegance for spring. The Beauty Newsletter
Delicate & stunning chiffon frocks, metallic swimwear, and exceptional eveningwear. The Quest for "it"

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ
Minimalistic with signature - and fantastic - cuts. I Am Fashion

PORTS 1961
Tia Cibani's romantic 1940s Argentinian theme of delicate fabrics and controlled volume with strong colors and complementary accents makes us want to leap out of our seats and tango in the aisles. Omiru

RAG & BONE
Truly ready-to-wear with unexpected colors. Couture in the City
Downtown cool with skinny everything - jeans, ties, belts & zippers - with a touch of 60s London. Gucci Westman makeup, Cameron Diaz backstage & an interview with Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann. Beauty Addict

RALPH LAUREN
Stranded in the wilds of Africa in boring attire...such as a black tee with black pants. I Am Fashion
A very natural, clean makeup look to compliment the collection. The Beauty Newsletter

REEM ACRA
Warm beiges, golds & browns dominated a flirty, flowy eveningwear collection featuring lots of shine. Classic chiffon, brocade, starburst embroidery, and dip dye take things from lovely to luxurious. Omiru

SASS & BIDE
High U-shaped and choker necklines dominated,  along with an interesting Greece-meets-American-80s sensibility seen through such pieces as a high-necked mesh-fronted dress. Omiru

SABAYASHI
Even standing in line I, it was obvious the that something amazing was about to happen - an eclectic mix of everyone from Bollywood's brightest stars, to stuck-up socialites, to top editors, to scummy rocker chicks (like me) willing to stand in line for 2 hours, waiting for a seat at this "emerging"designers show. Trashionista

TIBI
Spring prints gone wild. - Girlawhirl
Once upon a time, three little girls went to the Police Academy, grew up to become Charlie's Angels, and rocked Jill jumpsuits, smocked Kelly blouses, and Sabrina sunshine coats. The Shophound

TOCCA
Bold graphic prints dominated Tocca's Spring/Summer collection, along with detailing ranging from eyelet to ruching to embroidery.  The dress-dominated collection was  made for comfort and embodied a definite casual chic. Omiru

TROVATA
Get ready to go sailing in shorts, trapeze styles, and cuffed styles. Omiru

TULEH
Voluminous sleeves, snug skirts & a noticeable absence of pants in an extremely feminine collection. Omiru.com
Will probably sell "like bagels" (to paraphase Heidi Klum) but failed to live up to expectation. Aesthetics + Economics
Tuleh brings the messy bun and the classic red lip back in fashion. The Beauty Newsletter

Enjoy!

Fashion Week Spring '07. A Few More To End With. Second City Style Fashion Blog

I know I am thrilled this is over! Now I get to brace myself for Fashion Focus Chicago this week. Mind you, it's a consumer driven Fashion Week, but will be interesting non the less.

So here are a few other shows that should be mentioned that I just ran out of time to do a total write up on and am too tired to do now either. Besides, I have concluded that my final grade for Fashion Week Spring '07 was a B-. There were some standouts, but by enlarge styles next Spring do not appear to be much different than those last year. Great news for my wallet, not so much for fashion.

Three As Four




Futuristic fractals? There were some cool pieces, but the high-waisted pants and Lycra leggings were not very pretty nor practical. Um, no. However, they were different, that is for sure. Especially when there was so much that looked the same.

Rebecca Taylor




I have concluded that I have outgrown this line. Flirty and feminine but not very sophisticated.

L.A.M.B.




Admittedly, this line is not my style, but I totally appreciate it. Mainly because Gwen Stefani rocks AND she is one of the only celebrity designers I admire. The clothes are a total reflection of her style. The gowns were sexy as hell and her tracksuits were banging! I wouldn't mind a pair of the boots though.

Photos from NY Magazine

Fashion Week Spring '07. Another Showstopper Collection from Chado Ralph Rucci, Rendered in Luscious Hues of Bittersweet Chocolate, Pecan & Tomato with a Couture-Worthy Finale. Second City Style Fashion Blog

 

Summary: Chado Ralph Rucci is one of the true highlights of Fashionweek. There’s a reason he previously showed at the Paris Couture – his impeccably constructed garments are just as beautiful on the inside, and the silhouettes are completely modern, yet timeless. This season, a handwriting print added a fun, streetwear-inspired touch to tops & jackets, while a blanket of showgirl boa feathers was suitably fabulous for evening – although in these newly dressed up days, it would work just as well for day with black skinny jeans & a heavy duty Balenciaga’esque wedge ankle boot. A rich pecan hue proved a fab daytime neutral, along with a  shearling coat glamorously draped asymmetrically across the neck. The showstopping black taffeta gown with skirt of tent-like proportions & equally enormous cocoon wrap elevated everything, closing a collection which seemed more like glamourous couture rather than mere ready-to-wear.

Color Palette: pecan, dark chocolate, tomato, white with scribble print; rust satin, oyster, lime/chartreuse, mauve, purple, rust red velvet, blush, black

Textures & Details: satin, taffeta, shearling, fur, feathers, burnout velvet with Asian characters, chiffon, scribble prints, stiff almost stand-alone belts that encircled rather than belted the waist

Key Looks: pecan sleeveless day shift with inverted box pleat skirt; tobacco shirtdress with dark brown belt that seemed to almost stand away from the body (similar to the belts at Alexandre Hercovitch); tomato skirt & duster over scribble print top; showgirl feather evening jacket; draped shearling coat; oversized black taffeta evening gown & ginormous wrap

-    Lesley Scott Fashiontribes

(photos: Style.com)

Fashion Week Spring '07. Doo Ri Did Right! Second City Style Fashion Blog

What a perfect showing with which to end Fashion Week. I have been a Doo Ri Chung fan, but she managed to exceed my expectations.  Not only was her collection different that what I expected, it was elegant, refined and didn't overuse embellishments I was growing tired, but used to seeing this week.

Summary: Doo Ri has been synonymous with solid jersey, but not this time. She added tone on tone and the draping was impeccable. Her use of chiffon and silk for her dresses was dead-on. There were some black and white graphic prints, wide obi style waist belts with minimal beading, and mixes of fabric combinations that flowed perfectly (a dove gray chiffon halter evening gown with grey/silver silk in the back that just peeked out on either side of the waist was stunning).

Color Palette: dove grey, heather grey, dark silver, pale sage, black, beige, white, blue-grey.

Texture & Details: Silk and chiffon dresses, tops and jackets, draped bows at the neck; waist-definition with subtle grey-silver wide leather obi belts, drop waist cocktail dresses, bubble hems, silk hourglass and babydoll dresses, draped light jersey, gabardine skinny pants with draped jersey at the waist, a silk linen dark grey belted trench.

Key Looks: Draped neck bows a la Calvin Klein in the 80's, obi style metallic waistband belts, painted on high-waist drainpipes, beaded waistbands, strappy sandals.

Photos by NY Magazine

Fashion Week Spring '07. Manuel Fashion Week Runway Video Montage. Second City Style Fashion Blog

Fashion Week Spring '07. Mac Zac (Posen) Attack. Second City Style Fashion Blog

I am sure I was not the only one scratching my head over Zac Posen's Spring runway show. Mere hours after seeing him on Project Runway as a guest judge, I found myself wondering if he was in or was he out? I couldn't grasp his point of view.

Summary: Almost manic, this collection was another example of the pendulum swinging both ways. A stunningly draped suit (which Posen does like few others) was followed by a flamenco hemmed and over-the-top dress. Fits ranged from super slinky to massive silk organza and bowed gowns that dwarfed 80's Scassi in comparison.

Color Palette: white, creme, blush, black, indigo blue, denim blue, black, silver, charcoal grey, khaki, pale gold, tangerine, pink, copper orange, teal and dark green.

Texture & Details: taffeta dresses; tulle; silk; cropped denim 3/4 sleeve jacket with high-waisted denim menswear pants; bubble hem skirts and dresses; shiny black silk micro 'shorts' suit; lace with fringe; dresses that were ballooned on the top and again at the bottom; floral applique hems; silk 40's era cocktail dresses. Gargantuan silk taffeta ballgowns.

Key looks: Adored the tangerine evening dress with a pink sash bow tied at the waist and a dark green silk sleek column and bubble hem gown.

Photos from Glam

Fashion Week Spring '07. Temperley Temporarily Leaves Girlywear. Second City Style Fashion Blog

When I worked Designer & Couture apparel for a nanosecond at Neiman Marcus I could usually be found drooling over the Temperley dresses. I'm a sucker for girlie embellished frocks and beautiful fine knit dresses. So I was a little disappointed. Where were the goods? Alice Tempereley showed a dizzying amount of day wear, handbags and belts which quite frankly, could have been anyone. I love a great handbag as much as the next gal, but bring on the glamor and glitz! It's Fashion Week. Give the people what they want!

Summery: A range of clothing from day-wear to evening gowns with accents of designer designed handbags, belts and sunglasses.

Color Palette: white, off-white, brown leather, dove grey, silver, taupe, black, brown a black/chartreuse green tiger print on a white background and splash of hot pink.

Textures & Details: cropped leather jackets with big leather covered buttons and jumpsuits, high waisted, leather micro mini, jumpsuit pants and shorts, overalls, cropped baggy pants, draped bubble dresses, flowing tunics & gowns, one lonely knit dress.

Key Looks: leather suspenders, Versace-esque belts, straw fedora hats, clutches with chains, huge green leather carryall, canvas and leather totes, dark sunglasses.






Photos by Coutorture Media

- Lauren Dimet Second City Style

Fashion Week Spring '07. Bright Hues Along with Flattering Lines Dominate at Abaete. Second City Style Fashion Blog

Summary: Abaete showed markedly brighter palette than many other New York shows, with bright cobalt, red with pink, canary yellow, and fuschia well represented. Vertical lines characterized the silhouettes with floor-length evening columns, a black satin romper with a row of eyecatching red Lucite buttons, a white ¾ sleeve buttondown paired with a monochromatic cream taffeta full skirt & waist-defining wide black waist-wrap belt. Oversized floppy wide-brimmed hats added a touch of old-world, Kentucky Derby glamour.

Color Palette: cobalt, red with pink, black & white prints; bright yellow, muted purple with yello; fuschia; brown & white 70s’ish vertical lozenge print

Textures & Details: brights; vertical silhouettes; modified bubble skirts; satin & shine; flowy; floppy widebrimmed glamour girl straw hats

Key Looks: a white ¾ sleeve buttondown paired with a monochromatic cream taffeta full skirt & waist-defining wide black waist-wrap belt; floor length gowns; black satin romper with red buttons

- Lesley Scott Fashiontribes

Photos by FirstView for NY Magazine

Fashion Week Spring '07. More Vera Wang. Second City Style Fashion Blog

Man, I do love her clothes. Good thing I can afford Kohl's. Wang's look is so perfected and honed that it is easy to recognize her designs in a sea of designer labels.

For her spring collection she played with bubble hems, skinny cropped pants, tunics, tulle and her usual silk faille. Truly spectacular.

 
Photos by Coutorture