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It was bitterly cold this week but inside the Bryant Park tents fashionistas from around the world were boiling with excitement for the fall 2007 collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
“I get an adrenaline rush just walking into the Tents,” Carmen Electra told The Daily. “It feels like a rock concert!”
The runway culture has gone through its share of scandals and bad press as of late, but most people who attend the bi-annual event are there to be inspired by the designs and the eclectic mix of people.
“All these young people and their creativity inspire the hell out of me,” agent and fashion industry veteran Richard Francis said. “It keeps me two years old.”
Stylist Kate Challoner agrees that the creative buzz and energy inside the tents keeps her coming back. “Whenever I come to fashion week my faith in the industry is renewed,” Kate said. “I really feel like I’m here for a reason, to make people look beautiful and to encourage these designers to continue their craft.”
Many of the fall collections were inspired by youthful social scenes of the sixties, twenties, and thirties, putting classic looks with funky colors and accessories.
From elegant designer Carolina Herrera to funky Betsey Johnson, black opaque tights were on almost every single runway. This was a staple look of sixties fashion icon Edie Sedgwick, the subject of the recently released biopic Factory Girl.
Carolina Herrera Look
Going with the sixties theme was a general color palette of bright blues and magentas paired with black. The hemlines of the skirts and dresses were also very mini as seen in Catherine Malandrino magenta oversized shirt dresses and Abaete’s slew of sleeveless silk dresses.
Abaete Look
Australian designer Jayson Brunsdon cited another iconic woman as his muse, ‘Deco Diva’ and artist Tamara de Lempicka. Brunsdon also used a lot of silk, open cut backs, and drop waists. Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s darling line, Tadashi, had a similar aesthetic, with a silver beaded flapper dress and a black and gold deco patterned mini dress.
Tadashi Looks
Runway shows are supposed to exude a mystical perfection of beauty, but Avo Yermagen, head of the Gaudy PR film in Beverly Hills, saw some shows that hilariously missed the mark. “I mean the backdrop almost fell over, [the models were] falling on their heels, the music was too low… you can hear them clicking and clacking down the front row,” Yermagen said. “It’s been interesting.”
The appeal of fashion week for Yermagen is not about the famous faces in the front row. “Obviously you have your Anna Wintours, your actresses and socialites,” Yermagen said. “But what I find really interesting, what I feel keeps fashion week alive and thriving is the art students, the fashion students that are coming here. No invitations, no expectations of gift bags or photographers. Just coming in, waiting in line, standing all day and seeing the show because they love it, because they live off fashion.”
Yet the wide-eyed art students were noticeably absent this year. It could have been the artic blast that kept them away or the unusual very strict door policy that was implemented this season.
Nonetheless some crafty students, including Yale student Carmen Yuen, were able to sneak past the velvet rope and enter the exciting fashion world. “It’s inspiring to see… You can wear what you want and be what you want for a little while,” said Yuen. “Fashion week is an event that can only happen in New York. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
Pictures courtesy of Getty Images & ThisisLondon.co.uk
