2011 Fall/Winter Fashion Week in NY: A Recap
A local celebrity stylist and fashion director gives us a Fashion Week rundown
Today marked the final day of Fall/Winter Fashion Week in New York City. If you didn't get a chance to catch any of the shows this year, no worries, because our very own local fashion director and style expert Billie Causieestko was there every day, and she is sharing with Bed-Stuy Patch all of this year's highlights:
The 2011 Fall/Winter Fashion Week festivities at Lincoln Center began with snow on the ground and frigid temperatures but ended with mercury on the rise -- 62 degrees, sunshine and spring-like weather.
And similarly, the collections this time ranged somewhere between haute and cold. Waris Ahluwalia's much anticipated scarf collection was presented in a sauna-like environment. The same held true for designer Elise Overland, who chose an ice rink as a backdrop to her collection.
Each season, New York fashionistas (myself included) dress in our best eye-catching, sometimes jaw-dropping attire (ie, baby bloggers) and Sunday-best shoes – mostly stilettos – to check out the latest trends of NY Fashion Week.
Now in its second season at Lincoln Center, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is firmly rooted in the core of art and culture. Some agree: Fashion deserves a place nestled among NY's theatrical arts. After all, the catwalk is best served with a little drama of its own!
This week, New York designers presented an array of trends that will surely aid in boosting the retail sales come September. My bets are on NY Fashion royalty, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenberg, Badgley Mischka, Narciso Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Halston, Vera Wang, and Tracy Reese, who all showed stellar collections.
Elegantly clad models sashaying down the catwalk, some beaded head to toe, enveloped in exotic fur (camouflage fur vests at Helen Yarmak), or draped in high-waisted silk Charmeuse, reminded us that the best remedy for a dreary economy is beautifully elegant clothes.
But nothing was better than what I witnessed by Stephen Burrows, who tapped into our inner girlie girl and not only showed feminine body conscience separates, but choreographed his muses to a rhythym of long graceful strides, womanly hip swaying, and perfect ballerina turns.
The legendary Pat Cleveland (and Burrows muse) was seated front row saluting the new guard, along with her daughter Anna who, from the looks of it, took very good notes growing up, "c'est chic" indeed.
And in typical New York Fashion Week style, the waft of excitement swirled through the streets from Uptown to downtown – Mind you, covering them all was not easy (geographically speaking) while wearing my new "comfy" heels of the season, as in my newly purchased All Saints sculpted-heeled 5 inch wedges.
In fact, the best collections were not just those presented at the grand Lincoln Center, but at lofts and galleries south of mid-town. Some of my favorites included Gary Graham definitely the conductor of his own band, with brightly colored Chuck Taylors, paired with his usual balance of artsy layering and structured silhouettes.
Lois Samuels who hails from the Carribean, creates Saville Row tailored jackets and capes. And always one of my personal favorites, Byron Lars, delivers the perfect lady-like silhouettes to makes us swoon.
This season, he decided to juxtapose retro glamour and global textiles, in a collection aptly themed "Native Americana." Models were donned in brightly colored feathers and war paint.
Will we see this trend a lot in the upcoming Fall? I think so. Lessons in fashion mixology will prevail. African-Influenced Doru Olawu who is known abroad for his exotic use of textile combinations showed here for the first time this season and did not disappoint his stateside fans.
Rachel Roy – who's East Indian roots are consistently weaved into her collections – combined patterns and textiles this season in very wearable separates.
And one of the best at this happens to be one of the youngest, Christian Siriano, who left me breathless over his finale waffle-textured artfully draped ball gown, shown with an oversize t-shirt! The late master Alexander McQueen would definitely be proud of his star pupil!
Over all, the week was filled with exciting, colorful, and creatively minded collections. Cheers to all who participated in NYFW Fall 2011!
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Former Essence Fashion Director Billie Causieestko is a world traveled artist-turned-celebrity stylist. She has dressed top celebrities for editorial, red carpet events, and magazine covers including Patti Labelle, Floetry, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Tweet, Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga, Muddvane, Eva Mendez, Iman, Veronica Webb, Rosario Dawson, Venus Williams, Nia Long, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Kelita Smith, Wendy Williams, Talisa Soto, Faith Ford, Eva Pigford, Eddie Cahill, Jimmy Fallon and Chris Kattan. Billie's artistic approach to high fashion has allowed her to work as a freelance stylist for several national and international publications, including Italian Vogue, Glamour, People, Honey, Trace Magazine, Uptown, Cosmo En Espanol and Harper's Bazaar En Espanol.
