Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Diane von Furstenburg

It was the height of romanticism and bohemian chic at the DFV show on Saturday evening. The girls each had floral motifs embedded in their coifs that helped summon the energy of the 60's "flower child" and "free love" era. In her usual style, bold prints were elegantly mismatched. While floral and strong color palettes were well represented. It was all about the "Goddess Chic" and even though there was a good amount of separates including T-shirts and sleek looking jodhpurs, von Furtsenberg remained true to her roots and what she does best - dresses. Sexy, billowy and effortlessly fitted dresses swishing down the runway in a haze of technicolor, sequins and woven bangles. Never has being a woman looked so good!

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - ARISE African Fashion Collective

ThisDay magazine not only formed a magnificent union with ARISE when they launched a fashion-forward informative publication that bears the same name but their collaboration on the catwalk is testimony to a thriving working relationship and was an inspiration to the fashion community. Attention was paid to easy flowy fabrics with strong accents on colors and patterns. Africa is a continent known for mouth-watering palettes and stunning drapery and prints and there was a lot of that showcased on the runway. There was also attention paid to intricate designs that featured ruffles, pleats and form fitting details. It was the perfect fusion of the ethnic and western mentality. And it was a thunderous success.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Lacoste

Sporty chic seemed to be the theme and what creative director Christophe Lemaire was aiming for. The collection as a whole featured the usual relaxed and comfortable basics that Lacoste is known for. The stripe motifs mixed with neutral crisp colors including the standard whites and navy. There were also some fun alternatives for those of you who live by the "simple but chic" rule. The offerings included poplin pleated skirts, poncho inspired blouses, and the mod-chic wide leg linen pants. The theme hindered on flowy and slouchy shapes paired with more streamlined pieces. The men also had a good display that was appropriately reminiscent of the U.S. open, with an homage being payed to striped polos, boatneck sweaters and cool breezy cotton pleated pants. There was definitely something for everybody. And even though it wasn't the most inspiring or edgy collection, it was definitely a very practical and simplistic attempt that will ultimately satisfy the palette of a lot of major retailers.

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Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Yigal Azrouel

Yigal Azrouel was inspired to go boldy where no one dares to go for his Spring 2010 collection at New York.s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The cuts were precise and the colors a fun mix of cool and sunny hues providing a satisfying contrast and an eclectic mix of edginess and street-wise chic. It was all about body alignment and conturing thanks to the signature cut-outs and daring crop tops that were featured. The asymmetrical straps incorporated in the dresses mixed in with black leather shorts displayed Azrouel's direction for 2010 - Strong, Sexy, & Sophisticated.

Check out the video from Yigal Azrouel's Spring 2010 collection:

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - L.A.M.B.

Fashion Week is in full swing in NYC and the tents are blazing with the usual fanfare and exciting previews for Spring 2010. The first designer being spotlighted in our Fashion Week Series is No Doubt front woman Gwen Stefani. Her collection for L.A.M.B. absolutely doesn't disappoint and features her standard beloved contoured blazers and the loopy edginess of the eighties (this time she adds an African theme to the era) that many fashionistas including myself have a hard time letting go of. But she admits that this time around she was inspired to present a more down to earth collection that still maintains the level of playfulness she is known for while at the same time increasing the maturity quotient. According to a recent fashion report in Women's Wear Daily, Stefani explains, "In the past, the clothes were a little more theatrical, but this collection is all about being real". Could Stefani's upcoming fortieth birthday explain her sudden desire to tone things down a bit? Maybe. But the fact remains that she has not lost her magic touch nor her ability to excite us with her fun flirty creations that include pleated balloon skirts and shorts paired with logo Tee-shirts. Her leopard print dresses are also to die for! And she does some major play with denim that almost re-defines the brand. Everyone agrees the collection was worth viewing and it definitely set the tone of what the rest of Fashion Week has to offer. Let the games begin!

Wearing White After Labor Day - Is It Still The Ultimate Sin?

It has always been the perennial rule that after labor day, white is no longer a viable option. But I'm sure like me you have wondered why this is the case. Who are the people responsible for making this adage permanently stick in our consciousness and also be the one surviving commandment in the bible of fashion that no one is willing to break. Well, according to an article in Time Magazine online, we can thank the beloved aristocrats for implementing the "no white" rule. Apparently, wearing white back in the early 20th century was not only a symbol of wealth but it also signified that you were part of the elite. The "Old Money" population dwelled mostly in the northern part of the country where change of seasons was imminent but they didn't have to wait for climate change to dictate their clothing of choice. They were in an enviable position to escape the miserable arctic weather for warmer posh environments - usually at resorts. And being there obviously required attire made to absorb the heat and so a lot of them sported white linen. So once the official end of summer came around it only made sense to ditch the all white ensemble once and for all and break out the new fall duds. Although this theory has been refuted by many fashion editors who express their frustration that the general consensus has always been to blame certain fashion rules and etiquette on snobbery, this particular explanation doesn't seem that far-fetched. Historically, it has always been those in a position of power who have been able to set the standards and provide the rules for those less fortunate to follow. And power equals money. Nevertheless, this is one rule that has been broken by those comfortable enough in their skin to take that dare. Even first lady Michelle Obama danced the night way during the 2008 Inaugural festivities in her willowy white ball gown. Being fashionable means being a risk taker. And sometimes that means recognizing the fact that certain rules can be or are meant to be broken.

Fendi Crowns New President of North American Territory

Former global sales vice president for Oscar de la Renta, Stacy Van Praagh will now be heading the North America branch of top design house Fendi as its new president. She will be working closely and reporting to Philippe Fortunato, who currently manages the worldwide retail and wholesale sector for Fendi. Van Praagh replaces current Bottega Venetta U.S. Regional president, Gianluca Flore, who left Fendi this past January. Van Praagh's newest appointment is great news for Fendi executives who praise her as being "charismatic, dynamic and positive". They are excited to have her onboard especially at a time when miraculously despite the economic upheaval, Fendi seems to be immune and doing quite well. Excelling especially in the ready-to-wear and footwear categories. The idea is to have Van Praagh continue the growth trend and help develop and nurture Fendi's relationships with their wholesale partners. Fendi will also continue to expand, with plans to open a store in both Miami and Las Vegas later this year or in early 2010. Given their track record there is no doubt the house of Fendi will continue to rise above the rest.