Nothing brings out the crowd to fashion shows like celebrities. And when the clothes are actually modeled by them, the crowd intensifies. The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Show manages to combine fashion and stars in raising awareness for heart disease, the number one killer of women in the United States.
The air inside the main tent at Bryant Park was electric with anticipation as the audience eagerly awaited the seventeen celebrity models. Usually in most runway shows, a certain look or piece will draw gasps of awe and applause, but not this show. As soon as the celebrity’s name was flashed against the red curtain, the cheers erupted. And when the star stepped out onto the red velvet runway, the crowd went wild. Whistles and enthusiastic applause, along with a few standing ovations went on through the show as celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth, Raven-Symone, Felicity Huffman, Valerie Harper (of Mary Tyler Moore fame), and Estelle strutted their stuff on the runway. Swimmer Dara Torres walked barefoot, holding her strappy silver heels, much to the pleasure of the audience.
The designers of the seventeen red dresses left a lasting impression as well. From Badgley Mischka to Tracy Reese, each provided their own unique flair and style to the beautiful vibrant dresses, accentuating the personality of the celebrity. Jordin Sparks was exuberant and youthful in Badgley Mischka, Kim Kardashian was regal royalty in Marchesa, and Kimora Lee wore a powerful fiery number from her own Kouture by Kimora line. Crowd favorites were Joan Collins in elegant Stephane Rolland and Heidi Klum in statuesque John Galliano.
As bright crimson confetti fluttered onto the runway, the celebrity models danced and hugged each other at the end of the show. What a great way to start Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2010!
—Review and Photos by Nari Kim
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The Fall 2010 Herve Leger collection screamed strong feminine empowerment. This woman is a sexy super hero “confident to stand tall in the face of the future”. Much kudos to Max Azria and Lubov who once again remain true to the Leger bandage theme but still manage to reinvent it. This season the captivating second-skin dresses were laced up in an architectural bondage manner, grommeted down, and pieced together with knit and metallic mesh inserts that simulated armor. Also included this season were some form-fitting separates like streamlined pants, jackets, tops and skirts. There was definitely a sensuous yet sporty play on shape, lines, and texture. Some other details included exaggerated hips, asymmetrical necklines and whirling seams. The color palette consisted of black, white, steel grays and pale nudes offset with some pops of accent colors like pink and green. Herve Leger continues to praise the female form by wrapping and enhancing it in some chic armor.— Maria Giannakakis
If I was lost out in the forest, I, too, would want a chunky, cream-colored knit scarf to warm my neck. And more than likely I would pair that with a beautifully shaped jacquard skinny pant with double zippers or maybe a cobweb lacy dress that hints to the trails that I have been and followed. I would perhaps take a few lucky accessories such as the Broken Thorn Necklace, Bulldog Leash bracelet or the Necklace of Cascading Tears . If I were going to encounter a witch somewhere and Hansel, my partner wanted to know where I found such rich warm knits and lovely amulets, I would cry, Twinkle by Wenlan, darlings! This season, Twinkle by Wenlan revisits the Grimm’s Fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel and imagines a line where nostalgia meets fantasy. The strength of the collection lies in the not so chunky knits, aptly named “baby chunky” because the designer plays with gauge sizes and texture, so knits can be woven from thick to see through. Stand out pieces were the cut out back knit sweater and the Lady Bovary hooded jacket that felt druid-like. Dresses were silky, structured and sheer, appearing in magenta and the basic black, which perhaps was not keeping with the forest theme, but still delicate and feminine nonetheless.—Jeanie Kwak
The designer’s “Hairy Metal” theme left this reviewer scratching her head a bit. As in Dokken or Whitesnake? It turns out that the “hairy” bit is really different types of shaggy fur (lining in a zig zag pattern across a wool coat, for example, or covering the shoulders like a stole). Furs were color-matched to the swirly, psychedelic graphics in the clothing which repeated itself in the men’s suits, bright leggings and short minis. The “Metal” theme refers to minerals of the earth, by utilizing colors of of bronze, steel, black gold and rust as well as aquatic colors of blues and mauve. The designer then turned the metallic volume up in a silvery, sequinned, belted coat, that despite it’s intimidating material, looked shapely and wearable. It felt a bit primordial, wild and pre-historic mixed in with a good helping of 70’s disco.
New York based designer Rachel Antonoff presented her brilliant Fall 2010 collection at Lafayette House. An instantly classic, mystery-themed show.