The notorious event that spans over seven days, features eighty-five
designers and a myriad of designs that stem from the classic to the
innovative. It is an event that turns Bryant Park to the hottest spot where even celebrities are forced to do their time and wait in line for themagnificence of what Chanel, Valentino, Jacobs, Wang or Klein, to name but a few, will bring to the table. Fashion Week is intrinsically and unavoidably full of flamboyance exuberance, the effects of an event that calls to the key players in the world of fashion to come to the table and communicate to the rest of the fashion world what their particular designs emulate about that season.

A riotous, boisterous, and drunken festivity; started the week off with our favorite party girl/leading designer Betsey Johnson, and yes that was the runway scene. Johnson’s Fall setup was a pub, complete with a tartan runway and four plaid-clad barmaids to start the debauchery! Joie De Vivre remains the mantra of Johnson and this collection that was steadfast in achieving that. The collection of forties style fluid dresses with their subtle polka-dotted sage and heart printed emerald were definitely going to be noticed in any pub environment. The entire lineup was successful in its thematic consistency due to frills and color that were forthcoming.

Next up is Donna Karan for DKNY. “We’ve always done uptown and downtown” she said “now we’re doing midtown.” It’s interesting and worth investigating. What was the inspiration that stemmed this rich collection of chocolate, burgundy and navy? From mid-manhattan? Karan juxtaposed masculine tweed and corduroy jackets with feminine ruffled chiffon skirts and dresses. Will pinstripe trousers and paisley printed dresses be the dress code for midtown Manhattan this spring? Donna Karan is adamant, and we trust her vision.

Jennifer Lopez’s new Sweetface label made its debut runway appearance at Fashion Week New York. Just how sweet or sour a taste did it leave in our mouths? Striding hard to compete with the best and also those who are devoted solely to their trade Ms. Lopez appeared to pulled it off with a certain level of professionalism. The clothes in themselves were pretty, the fabrics soft and feminine, but interestingly enough it was Lopez’s knack for styling that accentuated the collection. But it remains to be seen whether this celebrity designer can continue to hold her own on a stage far different to that which Ms. Lopez is trained accustomed to.

Fashion Week calls for the talented, the unique, the bold, the avant-guard to bring it on. Richard Tyler Couture shifted the focus of fashion runway to the actual more literal runway, with his Delta Uniform Collection. In fact, these flight attendant ensembles ultimately overshadowed his gowns in number and range. Delta shall be catapulted into a league of their own should these styles and levels of tailoring actually end up on the crew!Curvy navy dresses and stretch wool skirts were paired with perfectly shaped jackets. Will the center aisle of a Boeing Delta 747 be the next runway for Richard Tyler?

Kenneth Cole has a pre-req to his show, before opening your eyes to his designs one must open your consciousness. His video vignette focused on the country's homeless problem. He had Sex and the City’s Mario Cantone playing a salesman bullying shoppers to give coats to the homeless. To be critical the message
is some what mixed. Give the coat on your back to the homeless so as you can purchase a Kenneth Cole original pared down duffel in either a stone, plum or muted green. With the subsequent price of these pieces, (in the thousands I estimate), aren’t we just contributing to the national debt and further expediting spending credit card spending. Yes I am stirring the pot a little. And we all appreciate political awareness providing it is somewhat in toe with what’s going on at the time.

Fashion Week a la Paris was tres magnifique! Chanel embraced the romance and elegance of it all. In his “Garden of Earthy Delights” Hieronymus Bosch depicted a world of debauchery and indulgence the stage was set, now enter designer for Chanel Karl Lagerfeld with a couture collection that found its power in its gentleness. It was a scene of Marie Antoinette in shepherdess mode. The emphasis was on hips and long torsos. Blue ribbon white gowns under translucent jeweled aprons, in Lagerfeld’s hands, the night of the goddess is ensured.

Christian Lacroix’s mastery of couture is renowned for “maker of
noncommercial clothes.” The overall aura of joie de decoration was profound. Major eighties poufs and ballgowns were the call of the day. Exotic sari-esque gowns under tiny jeweled jackets and countless shades of pale were true to the detail and preciousness that is Lacroix.