Somewhere past Old Main, past Beaver Stadium and the cow fields of Happy Valley, celebrities and fashion newsmakers will congregate in Bryant Park this week, amid never-ending catwalks, models donned in couture masterpieces and paparazzi flashes.
And even though the world doesn't stop for fashion, fashion has shifted its focus in light of the recent tragedy on the Gulf Coast.
To kick off the fashion week frenzy, Condé Nast, publisher of fashion digest Vogue, donated $250,000 of all ticket proceeds from its Sept. 8 Fashion Rocks concert. The concert was held in Radio City Music Hall and featured performances from Shakira and Tim McGraw.
With runway shows going from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and designers working around the clock, elite designers such as Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors aren't the only ones on the scene. In addition to the veterans, Project Alabama is one of the young hopefuls looking to turn heads. The company honors its roots in Southern sewing tradition, having also featured a 10-year-old fiddle prodigy from Mississippi at their show on Sept. 10.
Here's what's causing some of the commotion in Bryant Park this week for Fashion Week 2005, which runs until tomorrow:
Nicole Miller:
Slated for the new season, international delight Nicole Miller took a soft approach to next season with a palette of gold, blues and watercolor prints. Her oh-so-feminine pieces ranged in styles with gold ethnic trim on tops and '60s pop shift dresses. Miller's fitted bodices, liquid silk bodices and crochet cardigans atop puffed pencil skirts are a fresh look at both casual and business-friendly attire. Her empire line dresses with overlapping strips of iridescent fabric drew much praise.
Diane von Furstenberg:
Nostalgia for aristocratic glamour of '60s Rome resurfaced in Diane von Furstenberg's selection of bold prints in greens, pinks and yellows. Her single-button square jackets atop her signature wrap dresses paid homage to the Grace Kellys of that era. The clothes in the collection didn't create as much of a stir compared with the crash landing of lights onto the runway at the finale, injuring several designers.
Naum:
The lighter-than-air collection of Naum featured sheer knits atop white linen pants cropped at the knees. Collar-less muslin shirts over white linen pants and laced leather heels are perfect for an easy day at the beach or in town. In what seems to be haphazardly thrown onto the body, his silhouette lends its unusual shapes to the thin leather belts slung around the hips, or high on the waist. His use of roomy, comfy fabrics makes this an easy style to imitate, even on a college student's budget.
Noticeably this fashion week, the clothes stressed the importance of ease and mildness.
So for the people who couldn't make it to New York City's fashion week, but who would sell their souls even if it meant only spending tomorrow's last day there, don't fret. Remember you don't have to sit front row to know what everyone will be clawing over next spring.
