Fashion Week Day 8

1. Scene/Milieu

Bjorn and his friend Rie at JFW. It seems as though there’s a sadness sweeping through the tents today. It has been a wild ride here in Bryant Park for the last 17 years. The tents here became a symbol and, if you will, a beacon to the world, indicating that fashion in NYC is what drives the industry. Although not exactly a competitor to London, Paris and Milan, it has been a showcase for American design, and it certainly positioned New York City as a complement to those venerable style capitals. With only three shows to go today, one in the tents and two off-site, I am feeling happy to go home to my pups and sad to step foot inside those hallowed tents for the last time. I am looking forward to September and the premier of the new Upper West Side, Lincoln Center location and what it can hold for the future of this fashion fest. I have seen 31 shows (would have been 41, but, of course, the weather thought otherwise and delayed my arrival in NYC for a day and a half), met many, many journalists, editors and industry pros, who upon seeing my “Wiscompton” man-bag, identified themselves and their ties to the Midwest or, in some cases, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, in particular. I have felt honored to represent our state and city as best I can, to show that style and fashion lives in your heart, not in your location. You don’t have to know anything about fashion to understand that beauty and design is something that makes the civilized world unique and inspiring.

2. Celebrity sightings/Who’s who?

At David Elfin, my heart stopped for a moment when I spied R.E.M. front man Michael Stipe two feet away from me. I was too star struck to whip out my camera fast enough to catch him before he was whisked away backstage by his handlers. Darn! Otherwise, the day was a bust after yesterday’s bumper crop.

3. Itinerary

David Elfin – The Spanish designer showed another one of the emerging trends, that of the masculine/feminine dichotomy. There was a Bowie-esque “Man Who Fell to Earth” female model with bright goldenrod hair (see video), menswear-inspired looks with impeccable tailoring for women, and men’s looks with feminine details like peplums at the waistbands of slacks and jackets. All the models wore white leather gloves to unify them. I definitely got it. Again we saw the use of bright color to accent the primarily gray, white and black collection. Androgynous yet some items could be worked into a modern minimalist’s wardrobe. Ten of the pieces will be available online exclusively for yoox.com in late February.

Anthropologie. Leifsdottir – Anthropologie’s designer showed a fantastic Spanish flamenco-inspired collection in a presentation in an ornate East Village ballroom. Some of the models actually played castanets. The hair and makeup was movie star glamour and reminded me of Paloma Picasso (see video.) Bright and unique floral blouses and dresses played off of the mostly black, white and gray collection. The attention to detail that she is known for was apparent in the ruffles, embroidery and sequin embellishment on many of the garments. The standouts were uniquely decorated cardigans, new takes on the classic black wool coat and perfectly tailored little black and print dresses. Keep your eyes open for these lovely pieces in the Third Ward Anthropologie store this fall.

Japanese Fashion Week Preview – Featured the work of eight designers or design houses from Japan and a taste of what their fashion week will be like. Known the world over for their almost sculptural approach to fashion, there was much to see. Leather knits for men, urban Rasta looks and out-of-this-world alien garments were on display. A feast for the eyes, and a take on from what I could see, third world living. Only one collection featured anything remotely wearable, but, then again, this was more like an art show. The party was held in an enormous Soho loft and was populated with New York hipsters and Japanese expatriates alike (see video).