Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12: Celebs in Bright Colors! Renee Zellweger, Camila Alves, Barbara Walters, Nina Dobrev, Dakota Fanning and More

With all the fur I saw on the runways this Fall/Winter 2012-2013 season, I almost wondered if that’s ALL the celebs would be wearing in the front row. And while I did see a fur vest on one very stylish Olivia Palermo, it was other unexpected trends that did it for me among the celebrity-studded arrivals at shows like Michael Kors, Monique Lhuillier, and BCBG Max Azria.  Many of them, for example, wore bright colors, something I thought was appropriate for Spring 2012 and not for Fall. But even with the weather being colder in February, celebs like Camila Alves and Debra Messing did not hesitate to throw on the bright colors.

Renee Zellweger at Carolina Herrera

While she has missed the show once or twice, actress Renee Zellweger is typically a front row fixture at Carolina Herrera’s runway presentation, and often uses the designer’s fine ladylike taste to dress her for major red carpet events.  The pink and cranberry color combination of this top and pencil skirt is most likely Carolina Herrera and it fits Zellweger to a T.

Diane von Furstenberg and Barbara Walters

I can say without a doubt that Diane von Furstenberg was probably the best dressed designer on the runway this season in her yellow top, fuchsia belt, and black skirt. Even more stunning is Barbara Walters’ vibrant orange coat, green top and blue pants (a big change from her typical conservative skirt suit attire.) Even more, more stunning, the fact that Barbara Walters joined media heavyweights like Diane Sawyer and Anderson Cooper in the front row for an anchor person spectacle in the front row at DVF.

Jenna Dewan and Kristin Cavallari at Rachel Roy

Jenna Dewan left the hubby at home to hang out with Kristin Cavallari at the Rachel Roy show.  We love the dresses, they fit the gals perfectly, and the orange-white two tone dress is nice on Dewan…until we notice that her shoes match the skirt and the whole thing just becomes too much!

Nina Dobrev and Camila Alves in Monique Lhuillier

It’s pretty cool that Camila Alves has started coming out of Matthew McConaughey‘s shadow after two kids.  We know that being his partner has made her super famous, but she is a beauty and she can totally work it to her advantage. She also seems super sweet.  Another celeb that seems super sweet is Nina Dobrev, who became a front row fixture this season at her first New York Fashion Week. For some reason, Monique Lhuillier decided to dress up her celeb attendees in bright, bright colors, a strange twist considering her Fall 2012 collection is completely and totally black, red, gold, silver and purple.  Not a neon color in the slightest.  The girls do look darling, though.

Dakota Fanning at Marc Jacobs

Dakota Fanning looked darling in ice blue in the front row at the Marc Jacobs show for Fall/Winter 2012-2013.  Still, despite the dress being really, really special (it IS MJ after all,) we think the collection this season totally outdid her. In fact, it totally outdid everybody and blew us out of the water. See for yourself here.

Maria Sharapova at Marc Jacobs

Also at Marc Jacobs, one sparkly Maria Sharapova, who was in the front row for more than one show this season.  Not quite as appealing as Dakota Fanning but nice, nonetheless.

Leighton Meester at Vera Wang

Was Leighton Meester really wearing Lovestruck at the Vera Wang show? She tweeted she was, and she is the face of the Vera Wang fragrance so it would make sense. But we didn’t get a whiff just to be sure. Did you? In any case, it’s obvious that Meester is wearing a custom made something or other from Vera Wang’s newest Fall/Winter 2012-2013 line. If you saw the collection on the runway, you would see for yourself.  Bright and interesting color combinations, but unfortunately not as amazing as other Vera collections. But at least she’s not making a gown this time for one Kim Kardashian.

Snooki and Angela Simmons at Bebe Black

I know not all of us are fans of Snooki’s fashion sense but we’ve got to hand it to her–for a girl that likes to walk around in fur Uggs, this outfit is fairly covered up, nice, and still statement-making in that bright blue way.  Also, kudos to the interesting padded jacket worn by Angela Simmons with more blue, a bag this time, and for looking nicer than a lot of other celebs at bigger named shows. This fashion show is for Bebe Black presented by the retail brand Bebe.

—Simona Kogan

 Photos: People.com, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Joanna Mastroianni Travels With A Fashion Legend

Summary: Sadly, the Joanna Mastroianni Fall ’12 show is going to probably be remembered as the show where 95 year-old Zelda Kaplan died. However, the inspiration for Joanna Mastoianni was another woman in her 90′s- Iris Apfel, the fashion icon whose wardrobe was once exhibited at the Met. While the translation was not literal, there were obvious references to Iris’ favorite trends like oversized accessories, evening gloves, African jewelry, etc.  The journey began in the autumn in New York City (think Central Park meets evening wear), then the snow begins to fall (creams and pearls) Then we are off to Paris where was are a bit more sophisticated (metallic gowns and evening gloves), then Asia (red and kimonos).

I normally think of Mastroianni’s designs as for a more mature woman, so i was surprised how this collection had something for young and old alike. It was like we were not only going on a journey with Apfel, but a walk through her life. As the years progressed…so did the styles.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week Fall ’12. Douglas Hannant Goes Gentry.

Summary: In talking with Douglas Hannant before his AW12 show at the New York Public Library (right next door to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) he explained that “the inspiration is ‘Gentry.’ It has an English country/English manner feel to it. The muse is Wallace Simpson, so it has this very aristocratic English attitude.” Infused with elegance, Hannant describes this collection as looks that are “modern classics. Not classics in the way that you always know a classic, but in a way that there’s something different, that it’s redefined. I believe clothes should be timeless and ageless and clothes should last forever, that’s why I use the term modern classics.”

Although his dresses are very pretty and lady-like, where Hannant really shines is in the outerwear. A forest green mohair jacket makes a gorgeous statement with a knotted bow around the neck that extends in a dramatic diagonal. A camel mohair clutch coat features an exaggerated shawl lapel  that makes a striking impact. Colorblocking, feathery prints and an oversized approach to houndstooth pepper the collection with a rich visual texture. “Texture has always been very important to me,” the designer noted.

Hannant knows his client well; she is a  “connoisseur of clothing.” And for her he has designed a series of looks fit for any stylish aristocrat, with many gems for Fall.

Colors: Grey, black, charcoal, heather, white, cobalt, greige, espresso, teal, tomato, camel, raspberry, forest green, purple, emerald, tan, eggplant, silver, fuchsia, paprika.

Fabrics and Textures: Plaid, wrapped, cable knitting, jersey, leather, cashmere, flannel, tweed, wool crepe, houndstooth, leopard, lace, suede, fox, ruching, georgette, mohair, embroidery, organza, faux fur, charmeuse, chiffon, alligator, lacquered thread, beading, velvet, moire, jacquard, shantung, taffeta.

Key Looks: Forest green mohair jacket over brown leather skirt; Silver moire flared strapless cocktail dress; Eggplant wool crepe dress with leather back strap.

–Amanda Aldinger

Photos: NYmag

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Nanette Lepore’s Gypsy Gems

Summary: For her Fall’ 12 collection, Nanette Lepore decided to go little boho and a little back in time. Her crisply colored collection was inspired by, what she noted as, “Tarot reading with Oscar Wilde.” She wanted to channel a rich, almost gypsy-like mystery in her garments, layering them in a mixture of colors, fabrics and a touch of spangle and fringe. For a designer having built a reputation from her prowess for dresses, Lepore adeptly piled on her separates. The opening looks were some of my favorites: zesty “chartreuse” cloque, buttery “mulberry” velveteen and fresh “cyan” lace. The subtle gem print and bold tribal print were  elegant nods to Lepore’s boho vibe without seeming too overt.

I also enjoyed the bright red “flame” pairing with the cool “mulberry” maroon combination, bringing in Lepore’s flare for making a dress an entire ensemble. Unfortunately as the show went on, the garments seemed to lose their luster and became more lackluster versions of their predecessors. The “amber and “cyan” groupings were not my favorite and the combination of beading, fringe and “tarot print” motifs was just too, “I’m a gypsy girl” for my liking. With the cornucopia of fabrics and colors that Lepore likes to have, it seems best if she scales back on the embellishments, though most of the pieces did seem totally wearable for Lepore’s loyal following.

Color Palette: gem print, chartreuse, mulberry, cerise, forest green, cyan, tarot print, flame, ribbon print, mixed print, amber, foulard, gold, houndstooth

Fabrics and Textures: cloque, velveteen, jacquard, leather, lace, beads, sequin, lame

Key Looks: Gem print coat, Chartreuse cloque top, Chartreuse cloque skirt, Mulberry flounce skirt, Chartreuse lace dress, Tarot print skirt, Beaded scarf, Cyan beaded top, Amber flounce dress, Flame beaded top, Gold lame jacket, Amber velveteen pants

-Alia Rajput

Photos: NYMag

New York Fashion Week Fall ’12. Strut: Fashionable Mothers Making Their Mark.

The Strut Fashion Show

Thursday, February 16th will mark the first time Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show will premiere during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The event will be hosted by model and mom Iman and our very own Lauren Dimet Waters, Editor-in-Chief of Second City Style, will also be walking in the show.

Vera, Audrey, Stephanie, Denise, Melissa, and Holly are all mothers who are the brains behind the fashion show. All are hardworking individuals that balance their knowledge of children, work, and fashion on a daily basis. To each woman, they believe that despite the mother title, glamour does not need to be traded in for sweatpants. This is why these women got together to create a fashion event to showcase the style that conventional mothers can and should have.

Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeney are founders of the company Getting Gorgeous (works to build relationships between a brand and social media influencers), and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is currently the Director of Fashion at the Lincoln Center along with a fashion consultant to IMG. Holly Pavlika is the founder of Mom-entum (a woman-focused marketing subsidiary of the company Big Fuel), and Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein are founders of The Moms, a multi-platform lifestyle brand.

“Like so many women in the workforce, we altered our paths once we had kids,” said Denise. “One thing that stayed true was our love of fashion.”

Although this market is different compared to the typical NYFW attendee, these women account for a large segment that does the majority of household spending. When considering the impact that mothers can have on the fashion industry, it was hard not to hand over a runway at Lincoln Center.

The six moms behind Strut

Melissa spoke about “when you are a mom you take all the focus off yourself and channel it towards your children.” She also added how ”the creation of our show is to help moms reclaim their sense of style with affordable and transformable looks that are wearable throughout the day.”

Many mothers believe that finding a balance between being a mother and being fashionable can be difficult, however Strut is helping maintain a balance by providing options. The event showcases pieces for the modern mom; providing inspiration and ideas on how to take an outfit from being ‘mommy’ to working to even a night out. Each piece will be walked down the runway by true moms and fashionable business women, like Lauren Dimet Waters. Brands such as T.J.Maxx, Clorox, and Matrix are sponsoring the event, along with designers like Tory Burch, Vera Wang, Rachel Roy and BCBG, who are providing looks that will be featured in the event.

Strut will be available to every mom out there – from live-stream online to a Twitter feed and real-time blogging, so every mom, no matter where she is, can pick up a few tips and tricks. Be sure to check it out tomorrow at 3pm EST! Oh and say a prayer that Lauren doesn’t trip!

- Lindsay Grundy

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Badgley Mischka’s Ghoulish Glamazons

Summary: Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka chose to shake things up a bit for their Fall ’12 Badgley Mischka collection, combining their traditional Badgley Mischka line with their Mark + James and Couture collection of  ”day wear” (“day wear” being in quotes since the separates were just as luxe as the gowns in most cases). There’s no doubt about it, people expect an array of showstopping glamour at the Badgley Mischka show, two age-old kings of the red carpet. And despite the two separate lines on the runway, the show ran seamlessly along the same thread. The mood was definitely darker this season, made more apparent by the macabre, sort of Tim Burton styling to the hair and makeup. But even ghouls get to be glam as the designers used their melancholy undertones to trot out romantic looks in luxurious fabrics. Chiffon, organza and lame rippled down the runway, reflecting the stage’s backdrop of softly falling snow on Central Park. Metallic tweeds early on made way for the glistening brocades, sequins and beading that are the men’s bread and butter.

The only real nods to more casual wear were in the lame pajama set, the occasional grey flannel pant and even one sighting of (gasp!) denim. But again, the lineup did not seem stunted as a gown mixed itself in with a shearling coat. When they weren’t heavily embellished, the dresses were simple and elegant in their draping. Fur stoles in fox and mink added a bit of texture here and there and velvet and lace provided dimension to the mostly matte jersey gowns. As a huge fan of dark and brooding glamour, I personally loved the “Corpse Bride” undertones of the show, as if a Victorian stateswoman had died of a broken heart and come back to life to wreak revenge. The only thing I would have liked to see was maybe a little more color—the soft washes of rose and teal were subtle enough to stay in step with the show’s theme but I feel like they could have been explored even further.

Color Palette: gold, black,  jet, antique gold, moss, bronze, metallic, pewter, mahogany, brass, thistle, iron, arrowhead, grey, navy, midnight, teal, emerald, platinum, tortora sable, gold tulle, silver, smoke, mist, rose, argent, port plaid

Fabrics and Textures: tweed, paillette, lame, crepe, plexi, matte jersey, leather, scuba jersey, hammered satin net, sequin, fretwork jersey, mink, wool felt, chiffon, rib jersey, lurex, tulle, organza, brocade, denim, velvet, flannel, shearling, foiled crepe, georgette, sequin, satin chiffon, lame brocade, crystal, winter fox

Key Looks: Black Crepe & Plexi Dress, Teal Hammered Satin Dress, Black Felt & Metallic Tweed Jacket, Metallic Sequin & Chiffon Top, Pewter Tweed Pant, Antique Gold Pajama Top, Arrowhead Brocade Coat, Navy/Black Brocade Stripe Officer’s Jacket, Bronze Sequin Chiffon & Tulle Skirt, Smoke/Port Plaid Taffeta Gown, Silver Fox & Jet Shrug, Jet Matte Jersey & Sequin Gown, Rose Hammered Satin Gown

—Alia Rajput

Photos: NYMag

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Whitney Eve Goes Chic Vintage Boho.

Summary: Newbie designer Whitney Port was inspired by “an antique kaleidoscope she found in her grandmother’s house” for her namesake collection Whitney Eve — an image which resonated throughout her show in the Studio at Lincoln Center. Sequined polka dots popped and a bohemian mix of colors and textures resonated in a stylish way: an urban hodgepodge filled with comfortable silhouettes in looks for both day and evening.

There was an interesting iteration of knit throughout the collection, that included multi-textured sweaters and flared pants. Psychedelic, graphic and paisley prints made their way onto matching blazer/trouser combos, as well as mini-skirts and leggings. Crushed velvet also made an appearance, in wide-legged starburst-patterned pants, a tunic and a blazer. These fabrics and prints added a vintage feel to the collection, inspiring the thrifted aesthetic of treasures found in your grandmother’s attic with the unique point-of-view of the stylish eye.

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know what to expect from Port, someone whose dreams of designing were chronicled on a stale spin-off from The Hills. But with this collection she embraced some unique fabric choices, and infused them with a varied and visually interesting combination of prints and texture. With that, there was a sense of confident quirkiness and wit that was playful and refreshing. It seems like she’s taking heed of her new place in the New York fashion scene and working to put her own spin on things. We’ll see what she brings next season.

Colors: Orange, blue, plum, white, magenta, camel, cream, black, pale blue, navy, chocolate, metallic, silver, gold.

Fabrics and Textures: Splatter prints, velvet, wrapped, polka dots, knit, ruffled, ruched, sequins, kaleidoscope prints, sheer, cropped

Key Looks: Orange knit Peacock cardigan, Orion velvet pant and stud choker; Graphic black and white print blazer with matching cropped trousers; Black tank with silver polka dots, crushed velvet starburst blazer and navy cropped trousers.

— Amanda Aldinger

Photos: NYMag

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Narciso Rodriguez: (Once Again) Proves Less is More

Summary: To know me is to know I adore Narciso Rodriguez and consider him one of the finest American designers of our time. So clearly this is going to be a rave review…especially since this was my favorite collection of his thus far. What I appreciate about his aesthetic is his ability to expertly mix geometry with minimalism that compliments a woman’s body. Rather like what one expects from Calvin Klein, except dare I say…less boring. Season after season Narciso (yes, I feel I am on a first name basis with him at this point) finds new ways to create collections that are varied, yet are still so clearly his. I didn’t think he could get much better, but not only did he outdo himself with this collection, he also had to introduce his new shoe and handbag collection. Great, now I have more of Narciso to obsess about! The bags and shoes were mixed materials like ostrich, suede and leather in the same geometric way he crafts his apparel. As for the collection itself, the designer patchworked his designs in a warm fall color palette to great success. Aside from the accessories, the coats Narciso presented were spellbinding. Especially the first chartreuse coat to come down the runway. Even though it had volume, it still worked. Later in the collection he showed a similar coat in black, and I’d gladly take either. Then again, I would not turn down the color blocked beaver coat either! It was genius.

The other major success in Narciso’s Fall ’12 collection was the array of shiny silk and matte wool spliced dresses in colors like chartreuse and tangerine. Another favorite was the wool angora tweed mixed with flannel and perfectly draped bustier which was paired with a simple pleated menswear grey trouser. The final looks consisted of silk bias cut skirts with trains that literally floated down the runway. His pantsuits were also brilliant, especially the ones that looked like leather, but weren’t (coated cotton mixed with flannel). And once again, let’s not forget about the new accessories! I simply MUST own a pair of Narciso’s black strappy d’Orsay pumps with ecru leather and a grey suede cap-toe and any of the boots which are just too hard to describe to do any justice. As a coveter of bags, I can now forget about the Celine bag I’ve been dreaming of since I’ve replaced my number one bag of choice with Narciso’s 03 bag in black calf or the 05 version with ostrich. Heck, I’d even take a pair of the black leather gloves with a white strip of leather!

As always, I was sad when the show was over. If I couldn’t celebrate a Valentine’s dinner with my husband, I was certainly happy to spend it at the opera with my other man…Narciso.

Color Palette: white, ecru, chartreuse, loden, olive, tangerine, brick, cognac, russet, chestnut, dark brown, silver, dark navy, graphite, petrol, black

Fabrics & Textures: silk, silk crepe, laminated silk, cotton, coated cotton, flannel, wool, bonded wool, wool felt, wool angora, tweed, napa leather, beaver, lace, embroidery, suede boots, alligator, ostrich & leather bags,

Key Looks: chartreuse bonded wool coat; brick/wool silk crepe dress; russet bonded wool coat; russet chirimen silk and brick silk dress; russet bonded wool jacket with a brick silk top and black coated cotton/loden flannel pant; petrol textured napa and flannel jacket with a black laminated silk top and graphite wool/cotton trousers; loden and petrol wool felt coat; wool angora tweed and flannel bustier with graphite wool/cotton trousers; silver wool/cotton dress; ecru/chestnut beaver coat; black wool felt coat; tangerine/brick laminated silk top with a tangerine silk bias skirt.

–Lauren Dimet Waters

Photos: NYMag

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12: Haus Alkire: Feminine Redemption

Summary: I had some time to kill before the Narciso Rodriguez show on Tuesday night so I thought I would check out the debut Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week presentation of Haus Alkire. I had met one half of this duo, Julie Haus when Carol & first launched Second City Style and when I had heard she had teamed up with her photographer husband, Jason Alkire, for the textiles, I really wanted to check it out. Trouble was, it wasn’t really a presentation, but a runway show. Since you can normally walk into a presentation at any time during the allotted block of time, I got there about 20 minutes into the duration. By that time I was in the back of the room and could not see the floor level runway with photographers and crowds 6 deep. So I saw the model’s heads. Great if you are in a nightclub, but not so great to see fashion. Just as  I was able to wiggle my way up to the runway, the models were turning and leaving. So looking at these pictures are really the best view-point I ever had. I promise I was there…I just couldn’t see anything.

Anyway, Haus Alkire hit pay dirt when they won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award 2012 for women’s wear. What sets this collection apart is the fact that all of the prints are their very own and completely original. The inspiration for their Fall ’12 collection were the dark paintings of Luo Jie. His illustrations of torment and the search for redemption and use of light and dark and chaos and calm made for interesting textiles. Mix the redemption theme with the heroine of the 1968 Italian film The Belle Starr, you get a collection of dualities: good and evil; masculine and feminine; aggressive and passive.

The overlapping haunting prints on semi-transparent fabrics such as silk georgette and organza is where this collection excelled. It is definitely a severe deviation I had come to expect from Haus’ delicate designs, but one that’s a bit edgier and interesting. There are few items I would love to have in my own closet and I can’t wait to see what they create for Spring ’13. Hopefully something a little more uplifting, yet intriguing. And maybe, just maybe they will either have a runway show in an arena where we can actually see the designs or a presentation with models up on pedestals.

Color Palette: white, ivory,  silver, french blue, rose, lust red, ink, jet, black

Fabrics & Textures: hammered silk, silk wool, silk georgette, organza, cashmere, Mongolian cashmere, cashmere wool, double-faced wool, lambskin, knits, Mongolian fur, plaid, caviar beads, signature prints

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Photos: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12. Pamella Roland Goes Luxe in Aspen.

Summary: In Pamella Roland‘s namesake AW12 collection the chic ski-bunny is taken from day to night: bundled up in elegant scarves, fur coats and gorgeous boots for the slopes, and overtaken by glamorous evening gowns for fabulous Aspen nighttime fetes.

There’s no question that Roland enjoys luxury. She’s known for her red carpet designs, and that attention to elegance is mirrored in every detail of this collection. Luxe fabrics are shaded in gleaming metallics or sultry hues of grey, charcoal and stone. Pops of color brighten the collection, in rich tones of plum, mustard yellow and fire red.

The silhouettes remain fairly clean-lined, but it’s in the details where Roland really shines. A floor-length plum gown with a train is embellished with a deeply draped cowl neck. A gorgeous sheer champagne gown features a metallic gold pattern that moves out from the center of the bodice like a butterfly, giving attention to a strong v-neckline and delicate winged cap sleeves. A vibrant gold pattern drips down the front of a silver coat, creating a fusion of colors that is breathtaking against a bold cream scarf and sheer charcoal tights.

Roland has a confident, feminine aesthetic, and she designs for confident women who generate luxury and glamour. The designer’s affinity for the red carpet shines in a gorgeous collection for fall.

Colors: White, indigo, grey, camel, ivory, black, plum, dark brown, stone, fire red, marigold, charcoal, champagne, silver, ice blue, emerald green, olive.

Fabrics and Textures: Coyote fur, cotton, denim, plaid, knit, wool, faux fox fur, flannel, embroidery, hand painting, fagotting, fox fur, aspen tree print, wrapped, tweed, jacquard, quilting, beading, plaid, georgette, wool crepe, sequins, feather, gabardine, pony, woodgrain print, corsetting, sheared beaver, silk crepe, pleating, crosshatching, satin chiffon, asymmetry, charmeuse, draping, tulle.

Key Looks: Plum stretch twill cowl front gown with beaded shoulder and open back; Fire red embroidered double wool crepe coat, black wool knit crew neck sweater, black/white Prince of Wales plaid pencil skirt; Black faux mink fur bolero with a strapless black jacquard side pleat dress with feather beaded hem.

—Amanda Aldinger

Photo: NYMag