[New York Fashion Week] Lynn Devon F/W 2012 Collection Preview

If you're a young woman with a taste for classic American style (a la Audrey Hepburn) then Lyn Devon is the designer for you. Devon (pictured above in grey), who presented her first Ready-to-Wear collection in 2005, has quickly become a rising star within the fashion world. And in addition to her  accolades and awards, Devon was accepted as 1 of the 30 new members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The fashion community has recognized a few important aspects to her design that were crucial for the classic American aesthetic: impeccable tailoring and timeless style. 

Devon's F/W 2012 Collection was titled, "New York Love Story," complete with feminine shapes, kiss-me colors, and cozy textures. Long lines, exquisite tailoring (seriously, I could not stop going on about the quality and precision of every stitch), and some of the softest textures made "New York Love Story" perfect for drifting into fall. Sure, there was a nod to the masculine with the trouser pants and suit jackets but they were always met with feminine accents, such as cinched waist, delicate buttons, and slightly exaggerated lapels. 

Devon's young woman for fall has grown out of the oversized and misshapen sacks that have become synonymous with NYC style. Instead, she's prim and pressed, sure to have every bit in place. Personally, I'm looking forward to a fall with women who look more like women, in all of their power and prestige.

To view more of Lyn Devon's past and current collections, please visit her website. 

[New York Fashion Week] Kara Ross F/W 2012 Collection Preview 

During New York Fashion Week, I had the pleasure of attending Kara Ross's unveiling of her Fall/Winter 2012 Collection in a penthouse suite overlooking Central Park West. Founded in 2003, Kara Ross's fine jewelry has become known for its bold and unique use of exotic skins, gemstones, and precious metals. Her collection includes several jewelry lines, handbags, and other accessories. Kara Ross Fall/Winter 2012 Collection was inspired by Ross's recent trip to Morocco. The trip's influence on the collection was evident: rich and vibrant gemstones, reptile skins, precious metal plating, and the iconic Scarab beetle. 

The handbags and clutches were outfitted in a variety of reptile skins and leathers, some of which were custom dyed in order to maintain the desert aesthetic. And this coming season, you will be able to customize your bag at available retailers, selecting the stone(s), closure(s), and skin(s) as you see fit. You could say Ross's collection was fit for a queen (my birthday is August 14th if you'd like to start saving) especially with the addition of the jewelry. The Scarab beetle was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians as the embodiment of the god Khepri. Jewelry that bore the Scarab was only worn by Egyptian kings and queens as a symbol of considerable power and wealth. And with stones ranging from hematite to onyx, you would be hard-pressed to feel anything other than regal. 

For more on Kara Ross's fine jewelry and accessories, please visit her website. 

[New York Fashion Week] Some of the details from Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld's hosted Ouattara Watts: Vertigo

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, so I don't subscribe to the much talked about "arm party" that's all the rage in fashion blogging. However, I can most certainly appreciate a fine handbag and/or pair of shoes. Although I wasn't blown away by the looks at Vertigo, I was fairly enamored with some of the accessories. Putty colored suede Prada boots, Chanel Maxi and Jumbo 2.55 purses, a Hermes clutch: I was in a high-end heaven. 

The color palettes on most of the guests were fairly neutral, with only the occasional splash of color. Personally, I endeavor to carry black well into the spring months, perhaps incorporating some blush/nude tones for accents. And while I can't see myself wearing heaps of glitter (a texture in the spring forecast) I can see some additional suede pieces making their way into my closet: perhaps a peplum skirt, short sleeve top and/or sandals? I'll be sure to avoid the April showers that bring May flowers.

[New York Fashion Week] Some of the fashionable guests from Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld's hosted Ouattara Watts: Vertigo.

At the start of New York Fashion Week, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld hosted the opening of Ouattara Watts: Vertigo. Over 1000 guests from the worlds of arts and fashion came out to celebrate Ouattara Watt's solo exhibition.

Vertigo, the first major solo exhibition from Ouattara Watts in nearly five years, featured 15 large-scale paintings. The work contained an unmistakable aesthetic that integrated traditional painting, native emblems, and collages of everyday materials. Watts emerged on the international art scene over 25 years ago as a prolific painter, whose work breathed a fresh air into the Neo-Expressionist landscape.

Above, some of the fashionable guests that were in attendance that I had the pleasure of snapping. The looks weren't as outrageous as the last Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld hosted event that I attended, but the few that I was able to capture were worthy of sharing. Coming up, a post on some of the accessories that caught my eye at the event. Remember folks, the devil is in the details!

[New York Fashion Week] Vanity Fair outside of Irina Shabayeva

Zara Blazer, American Apparel El Salvador Lace Tee, American Apparel Multi-Layered Reversible Pettitcoat, YSL Tribute Pumps, YSL Arty Oval Ring, Celine Luggage Tote.

Sorry kids, no crazy fur coats, Burberry Prorsum Creepers, high-slit skirts or gnarly neons. You know me, same old Queen. All black everything with a little Celine on the side.

[New York Fashion Week] Celine with envy

While heading out of viewing Lyn Devon at the Hudson Hotel, I ran into a most fashionable young woman, sporting a suspiciously similar tote! I'm carrying the infamous Celine Luggage Tote in Putty, a color that I believed was only available in the United Kingdom. At first glance, I thought fashion blogger Blair Eadie (who looks like she could be Sienna Miller's twin sister) from Atlantic Pacific was carrying the exact same color but upon closer inspection, hers was a beautiful carmel. We immediately bonded over our precious totes and chatted excitedbly about fashion week. She then rushed off to another show but only in the most incredible Giuseppe Zanotti platforms. I love when great fashion minds think alike!

For more on Blair and her incredible personal style (prepare to be even more envious than you are right now, trust me) head on over to Atlantic Pacific.

[New York Fashion Week] Street Style with What Would Ashley Wear?

We all know that New York Fashion Week is all about posturing; everyone is scrambling to get their photo taken by either The Sartorialist, Bill Cunningham and/or Refinary29. And most are wearing only the most extravagent outfits to ensure same. Personally, I much prefer those who wear looks that are not only eye-catching but believeable. If you're going to dress like a circus performer, then it better be an everyday thing.

Fortunately, blogger Ashley from What Would Ashley Wear? did not disappoint. I absolutely loved her blush corseted Dolce & Gabanna dress with black trim and gold accents. Ashley's romantic nod to spring was not only fashion week appropriate but believeable; I could just as easily see her wearing the same number during the warmer months with stappy heels or darling flats. Stay tuned for more looks from New York Fashion Week that I loved in upcoming posts!

[Indian Summer] Wildfox The Lovesick Cowgirl

 Wildfox The Lovesick Cowgirl Fringe Hood Tee, Siwy Madeleine Shorts, Alexander Wang Constance Ankle Boots and Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch. 

I received that playful fringe hood tee in the gift bag from the Wildfox Couture presentation and afterparty during the recent NYFW. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off. I've always envisioned the Wildfox girl as some wayward waif with golden locks and sparkling eyes. It's nice to know that a brand like Wildfox can be embraced by regular girls you and me. You'll definitely catch me sporting more of their pieces in time. Fashion fantasy is finally starting to meet reality.

[New York Fashion Week] Richard Hambleton: A Retrospective 

During New York Fashion Week, I had the pleasure of attending Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld & Andy Valmorbida, with Giogio Armani's presentation of Richard Hambleton at Phillips de Pury & Co. The exhibition is the final installment of an international series curated by Roitfeld and Valmorbida, in collaboration with Armani, has included solo shoes in Milan, Cannes, Moscow, London, and New York. Richard Hambleton: A Retrospective highlights 50 of Hamblton's most influential works spanning from 1982 to the present, as well as twenty iconic images of the artist's work chronicled by photographer Hank O'Neal. 

From his "Mass Murder" installations of the late 1970s, in which he secretly placed blood-splattered, chalk-body outlines throughout 15 cities, to his "Shadowman" series of the 1980s, where ominous, shadowy figures were painted in unexpected corners, alleys, and side streets, Richard Hambleton has permeated our collective consciousness with unforgettable images for over three decades. One of the only surviving members of a peer group that included Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring, Hambleton has been living a reclusive life in his Lower East Side studio for the past twenty years. 

Above are a few examples of Hambleton's work alongside some of his very fashionable guests. The event was filled with noteworthy guests, such as Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Bar Refaeli, Camilla Alves and Lauren Hutton. However, I was far more interested in what the non-celebrities were wearing and they did not disappoint.  

[New York Fashion Week] Outside Patiently Waiting @ Parkchoonmoo

Believe it or not, I actually preferred the shows/presentations that weren't at Lincoln Center. The experiences were less "show and tell" and more about those truly interested in seeing what the designers had to offer. Off-site shows/presentations weren't swarmed with photographers and aspiring street style bloggers so I was able to just catch small moments before the show. It just felt so natural; no posing or unnecessary outfits for the sake of being photographed.