Small and Square Sunglasses: It’s like the fashion world woke up and decided it didn’t want to be bug eyed anymore.
Carolina Herrera, BCBG, Luella Bartley, Proenza Schouler

Nerd Glasses for Men: Can we say Geek Chic?  Disclaimer: Sporting these glasses as an awkward teenager probably won’t win you any more dates.
Trovata, Lacoste

Short Gloves: You go guys, for bucking the trend against the long, elbow-length glove.
Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler

3/4 Sleeve Styles: Trisha bought one of these 3/4 sleeve coats, but on her it was more like 7/8. Alas.
Proenza Schouler, Carolina Herrera

Color Palette:  Two color schemes comprised the fall collection, one in brown, bubblegum pink and cream, and another sixties-inspired brown/green/yellow/cream/orange combo.

Accessories Report: Chain link details, fur trimmed coats, maryjanes and oversized bows.

What’s Wearable: Virtually everything. As usual, designer Michelle Smith has paid attention to flattering shapes, colors and detailing.

Color Palette:  As if straight out of a Rothko painting, the color scheme was limited to blue, grey and black.

Accessories Report: Ultralong scarves (and necklaces for women), newsboy hats, logo duffels, knit ski hats for men, pins on lapels, suspenders, fanny packs.

What’s Wearable: For women, a capelet with oversized buttons; an oversized wool grey coat; slouchy leather bags. For men, fitted blazers with pin adornments on the lapel.

During fashion week, shows "start" on the hour and take place in one of three places in the Bryant Park tents: the Atelier (for smaller shows), the Promenade (for slightly larger shows) and the Tent (for big behemoth shows, like Lacoste and Zac Posen). Some designers have shows off-site in smaller showrooms in New York, generally in trendy areas like Soho or Chelsea. Shows begin, at earliest, at 9 am, and end, at latest, at 10 pm.

Junior public relations representatives start checking guests in about 25 minutes before the show starts. If you’re lucky, the PR company has already called you and told you your seating assignment via telephone before the show takes place. This generally only happens if you’re Anna Wintour or some A or B-list celebrity, however. Most of the time, you can expect to spend anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour waiting in a herd of people to check in for the show.

Hopefully, you’re important enough to rank a seating assignment. Public relations companies in charge of shows seat guests in order or importance at the show. Generally the hierarchy goes something like this: A-list and B-list celebrities, front row, scattered among various prominent fashion editors from the U.S. and international offices of Harper’s Bazaar, Lucky and Vogue (although Anna and Andre Leon only show up to a couple big shows during the week); buyers from high-end department stores rank just behind them, followed by makeup, hair and other show sponsors. Everyone else (ranging from friends to virtually unknown journalists such as myself) sometimes get to fill in the rest of the seats. More than likely though, the regular folks end up in standing room.

Those with seating assignments can sit down almost as soon as they are checked in, generally about 10 or 15 minutes after the hour. Standing room guests get lumped into a massive line and are let in about 20 to 25 past the hour. If there are any seats left at that time, standing room guests can fill them in (this is more likely during the afternoon shows). Otherwise, they are shoved to the back of the tent, to try to fight other guests for a decent view of the runway. During the show, anywhere from 27 looks to about 35 looks are shown.

The show usually begins around 45 past the hour and will last anywhere from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. (The shortest show I went to was Baby Phat, coming in at 10 minutes flat, while the longest was Heatherette, which came in around 20 minutes).

Kelly is a 20-something journalist living in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. When she’s not on the hunt for the best and most affordable fashion finds (in other words, shopping!), she enjoys reading New York magazine, listening to indie rock and working out at the gym.

Check back for Kelly’s view of Fashion Week, straight from the tents!

Name: Kelly

Astrological sign: Virgo


Can’t live without: Billy’s Bakery cupcakes, fashion magazines (InStyle, Vogue, New York Magazine), a good book (I love books about Irish history, social justice and anything by David Sedaris and Chuck Klosterman) and my computer and email!


On a Saturday you’ll find me: doing laundry, working out, cleaning or wandering around New York City.

Retail Haunts: Anthropologie, H&M, Zara, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Nordstrom’s and occasionally Forever 21 and Target.

My foolproof outfit: Bootcut Sevens with a fun back pocket design, any of my fun-colored 2 inch-plus stilettos (yes I’m short!) paired with a soft, pinstriped button down shirt, light blue cashmere cardigan and some funky earrings, a oversized hobo, and a Mary Poppins bag. (I love accessories!)

Color Palette: Neutrals with shots of mustard yellow, olive, burnt orange, purple, sky blue, and bright royal blue.

Silhouettes: Silhouettes were generally slim, but some looks paired a fitted top over a more generously proportioned bottom.  For women, we saw short sleeved dresses, fresh looking sailor looks–including a great pair of sailor pants with purposefully mismatched buttons, fair isle sweaters, short sleeved looks, boatneck styles, asymmetry, loose flowy skirts on dresses, cropped pants, striped tights, and sweatervests.  For men, we saw striped looks under jackets, plenty of plaid, suspenders, fair isle sweaters, peacoats, and of course, toggle coats.

Accessories Report: For women, giant charms on necklaces, giant cuff bracelets, scarves wrapped around the head Grace Kelly style, hoodie-like hats, knit caps with bills, furry hats, and tights (but of course).  For men, we saw untied bow ties, suspenders, and beanies.

What’s Wearable: Most of the collection was wearable, but we especially loved the toggle coats and sweaters for both men and women.  We also appreciated Trovata’s take on the nautical theme: a cropped blazer + a button down striped shirt with yoke + sailor pants with multicolored buttons.  

What’s Not Wearable: I would skip on the Sound of Music ensembles, but they were just for show anyways.

Color Palette:  Dark. If you squinted at the runway, all you would see are shades of black, grey, and brown.  We also spotted a purple dress in the mix.

Silhouettes:  Emphasis was placed once again on the waistline (which sat a bit higher than it did last season).  Most silhouettes were slim, though we did see a host of oversized coats, creating a "big over small" silhouette. Classifications included long sleeved dresses, 3/4 sleeve jackets, pencil skirts, belted styles, oversized cape-like jackets, motorcycle jackets, and vests.

Accessories Report: Oversized belts, dark tights, smaller square sunglasses, and short gloves (a welcome break from everyone and their mother showing Long gloves).

What’s Wearable: Our favorite look of this collection?  A cropped 3/4 sleeve blazer over a grey knit shirt (shown above), paired with a fancy embellished skirt and tights.