Highlights from NYC Fashion Week Spring 2010...

NYC Highlights: Spring 2010 RTW
All the latest trends and insider perspectives from New York's Spring 2010 fashion week.

Raphael Saadiq's "Tiny Desk Concert" Wonderful.

via NPR
For his Tiny Desk Concert, Saadiq brought a remarkable accompanist in guitarist Rob Bacon. The two had just gotten off a plane, but in their impeccably tailored suits and their grand smiles, they looked fresh and played an inspired acoustic performance. As you watch, keep an eye on Saadiq's guitar work: You'll see how his years as a bassist influences many of his licks on his Taylor acoustic. You're in for a real treat. [Thanks Ernise]

Young Designers Facing the Economic Downturn

London Fashion Week. [VIDEO]

Fabulous Showmanship at Isaac Mizrahi SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

Isaac streamed his Spring 2010 show live from Bryant Park yesterday, so I guess you could say those of us who watched had a front row seat to all the fabulousness. First off, his runway set was a delicious vintage throwback. There were stairs, fake rain, high heels, red lips, theater hats, it was truly an awesome spectacle! Oh! And the clothes. Over the top sophisticated. Loved. Check out video from Isaac's Spring 2010 collection below:

Denim (& More) With Attitude at Ralph Lauren SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

Any designer that can make you give a second look to a pair of overalls deserves some kind of props. I kid you not. Ralph Lauren's Spring 2010 collection had me pondering on all the denim I currently have in my closet. Including my overalls, lol. I guess you could say I was inspired. I was feeling the whole attititude and vibe from this spring line. There was denim, crisp whites, smart suiting, and flowy dresses. It was fresh, classic American style which is what Ralph Lauren truly does best. Click to see more pics from Ralph Lauren's Spring 2010 collection here.

Preview of Project Runway Episode 5 + My Own Newspaper Dress..

Check out the newspaper dress I did myself a little over year ago, I used the comic section because I wanted the dress to have "pop of color" lol.

WATCH Isaac Mizrahi's SS10 Show LIVE TODAY..

Tune in to TODAY, Thursday 9/17/09 at 2PM EST to see Isaac Mizrahi's Spring 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week STREAMED LIVE ONLINE FROM BRYANT PARK. Get there a little early to see the behind-the-scenes action while everyone arrives.Click HERE to WATCH.

A Trip to the Circus at Anna Sui SS10...

Photo via Coutorture

Anna Sui showed off her Spring 2010 line during New York Fashion Week and I love, love, love that grey dress (above). I'd take one in my size RIGHT NOW. Every season I love Anna's things. And shame on me, because I have yet to go and check out her line at Target, I'll definitely check it out before the weekend is over. Video of Anna's Spring 2010 runway show below:

Minimal Uptown Style at Michael Kors SS10 [VIDEO]

Photo via Coutorture

The Softer Side of Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2010...

Photos via Coutorture
Narciso Rodriguez, another favorite of Michelle Obama (click to see the first lady sporting a few Narciso Rodriguez looks here) showed off his Spring 2010 collection at NYFW and it was surprisingly much softer than what we've seen from some of his most recent collections. My thoughts on it? Soft is good. Video from his collection below:

WATCH Michael Kors SS10 STREAM LIVE NOW.

Watch Michael Kors Spring 2010 runway show LIVE NOW. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

Sophie Theallet's Fabulous Spring Fashion for SS10

Another one of First lady Michelle Obama's "chosen ones" (Style.com's label not mine..) Sophie Theallet showed her Spring 2010 collection on Monday 9/14/09 and me personally, (sorry @theaofa) I LOVED IT! Every one of her pieces was chic and wearable.

"The First Lady has helped my name to be known," the designer modestly admitted a few days ago. That kind of attention comes with a lot of pressure, though, and today it sometimes felt that she was too conscious of being watched rather than relying fully on her instinct.
Judging from this Spring 2010 collection, I think her instincts are just fine. See a full slideshow of Sophie Theallet's 2010 collection here.

Snapshots from Kai Milla's Spring 2010 Collection..

The Spring 2010 showcase from designer Kai Milla (Stevie Wonder's wife) was displayed at the Museum of Art and Design during Fashion Week, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, in New York. Click here to see first lady Michelle Obama wearing Kai Milla back in February '09.


Singer Stevie Wonder shared a laugh with his wife Kai Milla Morris at the Obama Home States Ball, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington D.C.
[photos via AP Photo]

Edgy Prints & Draped Solids at Thakoon SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

One of first lady Michelle Obama's fave designers, Thakoon stuck to his affinity for prints for his Spring 2010 collection. Thakoon Panichgul is one of the designers that the first lady has gravitated towards on many occasions and she wore the designer twice at the Democratic National Convention back in 2008. I think she shares his fondness of prints (click to see the first lady sporting her many Thakoon looks here).

Dotted Patterns & Painters Prints at Tracy Reese SS10

Photo via Coutorture

Flirty & Feminine at Rebecca Taylor SS10

Photos via Coutorture

Actress Taraji P. Henson wore a plum/purple colored dress very similar to the orange one-shoulder, ruffled dress (on the far left) in the movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" and I'm wondering if that dress was Rebecca Taylor too (see a partial glimpse of the dress on Taraji here). I remember it vividly, because it was so cute on her. Well whether it was or wasn't, Rebecca Taylor shared the inspiration for her Spring 2010 collection: "Spring 2010 encompasses playful use of colors, prints and textures. The palette is intense with shades of big apple reds, shocking pinks, electric blues, and retro jades contrasted with desert tans and soft, peachy oranges." Pretty.

Spectacular Draping & Folding at Christian Siriano SS10

Photos via Coutorture
via Lisa Tolin (AP)
Christian Siriano noted that his Spring 2010 collection was "a lush take on Mediterranean Travel" Some of Siriano's most striking pieces were made from a fabric print created using an aerial photograph of the Italian coast line — "flipped, modified, repeated and saturated with Volcanic and Oceanic colors," as Siriano described in his notes. He showed a capacity to wow with some of his tamer pieces in shades of blush, nude and khaki — there was elegant draping, delicate pleating and gathered flounces at the shoulders and hips, two body parts getting a lot of attention at Fashion Week.

Sporty Chic at Lacoste SS10 [VIDEO]

Photos via Coutorture

Arise African Promise Collective SS10 [VIDEO & LINKS]

Jewel by Lisa (my personal fave) Tiffany Amber, Eric Raisina and David Tlale all showed their respective Spring 2010 collections at the Arise Promise of Africa Collective on Sept. 11. I would have loved to see this show in person, I know the colors had to be spectacular. Anyhoo, check out video from the show below as well as photo links.
Click here to see pics from the show courtesy of Zimbio

Simply Chic at Cynthia Rowley SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

Cynthia Rowley is one of those designers that I appreciate for her calm, clean design aesthetic. I am an appreciator of the "avant garde-ness" of design but clean lines always win me over in the end. Loved her unembellished black and gray dresses, soft florals and nice unexpected pops of color like the one peeking out from underneath the black boyfriend blazer (center). See more of Cynthia Rowley's Spring 2010 collection here.

Ladylike Flourishes at Jason Wu SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

Jason Wu's Spring 2010 collection was full of colorful ladylike embellishments and flourishes and I couldn't help but scan the pics for styling possibilities for First Lady Michelle O. He's one of her very faves. His spring color palette struck me more as a fall story than a spring one though, but hey, I'm one of the biggest cheerleaders for breaking fashion rules, so more power to him on that front . Check out more looks from Jason Wu's Spring 2010 collection here.

Old Hollywood Glamour at Monique Lhuillier SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

I think Monique's looks tell their own story here. Any one of Moniques Spring 2010 looks could have jumped right out of an Old Hollywood movie. Monique Lhuillier is mostly known for her wedding gowns, but she can do a pretty mean red carpet look too. And she graduated from FIDM like me! Yay! Check out more looks from her Spring 2010 throwback collection here.

A Few Looks from Ports 1961 SS10 [VIDEO]

Scroll down for video footage of Ports 1961 SS10 show..



Photos via Coutorture

I have a strong fascination and appreciation for sculpted and tailored looks, which is why the dress in the center is the focal point here. Fabulous. My personal style is more along the lines of dress #1. Simple. Clean. Not too fussy. That's me all day. Ports 1961 Spring 2010 collection was a mixture of soft creams, peaches and beautifully sculpted metallics. And I was glad to see that metallics still had staying power because I have about 4 yards of metallic gold that I need to do something with and it's just nice to know that I still have a little time to be "on trend" with it. Check out more looks from Ports 1961 Spring 2010 collection here.

Cool Summer Khaki at Elie Tahari SS10...

Photos via Coutorture

Looking through Elie Tahari's Spring 2010 collection, you can't help but be ready to take off on a stylish adventure in his clothes. I love easy looks that make you look great, like you're not even trying that hard. Can't beat that. And I'm starting to see lots of trousers in this billowing, rolled cuff silhouette. Didn't really know how I felt about this pants look a while back, but it's starting to grow on me a little. The base of this Elie Tahari collection seemed to be cool khaki fabrics with just a pop of yellow and orange for color. Check out more looks from his Spring collection here.

Draped & Asymmetrical at BCBG SS10

Scroll down for video...



Full collection photos via Coutorture.

You can pretty much always count on a nicely draped dress from BCBG Max Azria. Love that about them. But if there was one dress that stood out to me from this collection, it was this one. I know. There's not much to it, but I think I love it.
FASHION LINKS!Check out Kristin Booker's take on BCBG's Spring 2010 collection over at her blog Fashion.Style.Beauty! *Video update*

New York Fashion Week is Upon Us!

Venexiana SS08 (L), Tracy Reese SS08 (C), random shots from NYFW September 2007, Ron Ward, photographer

That's right. Shows for the Spring/Summer 2010 season have already begun in New York City! It's a little sad for me not to be there covering it in person, especially since invites are still coming in. Yeah, that stings a little... But even though I won't be attending the shows this season :-( I'll still be covering most of the designer collections, the happenings, the trends, the street style, Fashion's Night Out and a lot of the rest of the fabulosity! I'll also be linking specifically to three of my fabulous Facebook friends and link partners who are based in NYC for their comprehensive coverage of Fashion Week events since they're already there and have already hit the ground running for their own sites (Kristin Booker from Fashion.Style.Beauty, Sarah Conley from Style It and Nichelle Gainer from 55 Secret Street) So stay tuned for those Fashion Week links as well.

In the meantime, check out previous Hip Candy NY Fashion Week coverage here as well as a few photos taken from the last shows we attended in NYC, NYFW SS08 by Hip Candy photographer Ron Ward who also doubles as my husband, lol. Check back often for more, more, MORE!

My Third Maxi Dress...

I finished this dress just before Labor Day, and I've already worn it. I must say, I was quite pleased with the result! When I first spread the fabric out on my pattern table, my husband came up to the space where I work and side-eyed it real good. He had, "WTH" written all over his face, lol.


But once I had the dress completed, he changed his whole tune. He actually told me that the dress looked, "fly" What?!? Don't laugh! We're old school, lol! Anyhoo, just sharing the latest addition to my many sewing projects, so stay tuned, because there are many more to come :-)

Michael Jackson Has Finally Been Buried...[VIDEO]

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