Fashion Week has finally come to an end generating the latest trends in fashion, the hottest fashion designers, the most beautiful models, the magnificent parties, the fashion press, the outrageous fashionistas, the celebrities and so much more. Below is a detailed breakdown of some of the highlights of the best designers and their shows.
“Fun, fun, fun is the name of the game!” shouted Designer Richie Rich from the Heatherettes as their Spring Collection was shown at Gotham Hall. Club Kid Richie Rich has emerged into the superstar fashion designer in collaboration with his partner in crime Traver Rains to create the newest collection themed Star-Spangled Smiles with doses of big red-white-and-blue Americana. The celebrity crowd included P. Diddy, Lance Bass, Bijou Phillips, and Tinsley Mortimer. The amazing Amanda Lepore and provocative Porn Star Jenna Jameson closed the show.
Always the Prom Queen, Betsey Johnson’s Spring 2008 Collection emphasized the perfect prom party dress with extra crinoline. Betsey explains “Life is just a prom. No matter what she’s wearing, she can’t get out of her prom state of mind!” Betsey’s whimsical collections are always for the young of heart especially this season.
Malan Breton Spring 2008 Collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week – Photo by Gary Silberman
Betsey reminds us of her 1958 prom-night photo from Terryville High School in Connecticut. The show was coordinated decade by decade, from the fifties with huge crinolines through the sixties and seventies remembering delicate daises and empire waistlines to the 21st century. An abundance of petticoated party frocks sprinkled with a collaboration of romantic hearts, sequins, gold lame and sweet lace.
The theme for Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2008 Collection was a day at the races. Very “Rex Harrison” very “Audrey Hepburn” very “My Fair Lady.” the gala 40th anniversary fashion show and soiree was held in the Conservatory Garden of Central Park. Models strutted down the runway wearing enormous dramatic hats, veils, garden-party dresses, halter necklines and ruffled jabots in contrast to menswear-style jackets and tailored trousers. Ascots and Spats finished off the detailing of the menswear fashion look. My last exciting show was the Malan Breton Spring 2008 Collection. Malan catapulted into stardom in 2006 when he was cast in the hit TV realty show Bravo’s Project Runway 3.
Breton’s elegant international collections have opened his atelier to the praise of the New York press reviewing his fashion line as outstanding throughout the world. The inspiration for Spring 2008 comes from a sentimental photograph of Malan’s ancestors on holiday in French colonial Indochina. References to Chinese and South East Asian traditional dress began this seasons vocabulary! Malan takes this vision to Hollywood, London and Paris before arriving in New York in 2008. His luxurious fabrics are married with architectural shapes and couture finishes to create a wide array of show-stopping ultra-glam creations. A collection designed to suit his customers’ multi-venued wardrobe needs. Tap Shorts and Trousers, Sun Dresses and Ball Gowns are all a part of this glamorous adventure.
A fabulous repertoire of silks and silk collaborations drape into the couture garments of the season. Double layered fabrics create architecture, sensuality, and luxury in a single garment. Silk linings and lace facings finish off the garment in couture refinement.
Golden Pearl Ginger, Raw Sugar, Azure, Cloud, Conch, Salt Crystal, Red Lacquer and Onyx are the colors of the Spring season. Cheongsams and Pagodas meet tiered and floating layers of supple architecture to arrive at a worldly collection sumptuously revealing Malan Breton’s vision for Spring 2008.
