Watching NYFW From the Front Row

For two weeks every year, hundreds of fashion designers, models, journalists, bloggers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and everyone in between, converge on Lincoln Center to show the hottest new trends everyone will be clamoring to get their hands on in six months.

That vest!

And I sit in front of my computer, eyes glued to the live stream on Mercedes Benz Fashion Week's website. I love NYFW, I think clothes are one of our greatest forms of expression and these ten days allows us to celebrate that. These pieces are carefully crafted, the colors, or hemline or beadwork, are meticulously perfected to make sure everything is just right. It's my opinion that they deserve to reach as large an audience as possible.

Amid recent complains that the rules and standards regarding who gets into shows were becoming too lax, the live-stream allows for the catwalks to be more accessible to more people than ever before.

Sure, we're not immersed in that atmosphere - the bright lights and frenzied crowds, and the feeling that you're surrounded by some truly magnificent expressions of art, but we get to see the models walk stride like elegant gazelles right towards us (the camera), their gazes fixed in a stare. The clothes hang from their bodies in a billowing fashion or cling tight and outline their physiques.

I can't recall exactly how long, but for at least three years now - six seasons - I've made it my duty to watch the DKNY and Donna Karan shows - along with other shows - Tadashi Shoji,  Michael Kors,  J. Mendel - that are sure to feature pieces that bring me to my knees, bowing to the designers and their amazing teams.

I really need that houndstooth skirt.

Today DKNY celebrated their 25th anniversary - an incredible feat for a brand that has culturally defined - and been defined by - New York City. Because they pride themselves on being from one of the most culturally diverse cities around, we saw more than just the typical model walk in the show.

It was fantastic. Different body types, different hair styles and colors and cuts, all stunning to look at - and the clothes were pretty damn amazing, to boot.

What I like most about this DKNY show is that by featuring people who break out from the stereotypical "model" norm, they inadvertently bring me into the show - it allows me to position myself that much closer to the brand. I felt a stronger connection to them than I have in years past and while that may sound silly, only a few brands are able to do that.

Vogue has a great write up about the show's inspiration, including some quotes from Donna Karan herself, and The Cut focuses on the celebrities in attendance.  I've included some of my favorite looks throughout this post.

Wear a cape, rule the world.

Stylish, yet it looks oh-so-comfortable. 

You can probably tell I'm still living in coats.

Seriously just let me live in this until April.

(All photo credit: Umberto Fratini/Indigitalimages.com, Vogue.com & New York Magazine)

The Olympics and New York Fashion Week

I feel so guilty. I haven't updated this blog since January 21. While one of the first rules I set for myself when I made this blog was "don't feel guilty if I don't update for a while," I can't help but break it. I sometimes think I set too high standards for myself.

So, I've got some posts ready to write, but with the Olympics off to a rousing start - I watched ice skating for far too long today - and New York Fashion Week shows streaming live on the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week page - there is nothing to do now but sit back and enjoy the shows.

I think the way these Olympics are being broadcast are pretty funny - Sochi is nine hours ahead of the east coast so by the time we're going to sleep, the days' events are just getting underway. You can turn on the TV to NBC Sports at 3AM and watch women's hockey or some skiing event.

Technology today, right? Never mind the fact that there are more live-streaming events on various NBC sites than ever before. You can bet I'll be tuning in during all hours of the day. No matter the event, I love watching the Olympics.

If that sounds a lot like New York Fashion Week, that's because that's the other half of my days. I follow all the top Twitter accounts - @DKNY, @FugGirls, @EHolmesWSJ, @BagSnob, and of course, a smattering of wonderful bloggers. NYFW is like the Olympics of fashion. I'm sure I'm not the first person to make that comparison, but, c'mon, it was right there.

Enjoy the spectacle, everybody. The Olympics shows us the best of the world's talent (even if you don't agree with the host nations' laws) and NYFW shows us what we'll be wearing in six months.