Once the people have gone home, and the tents are taken down, what are we left with? When its all said and done, how do we interpret the impact of Fashion Week? Basically, the shows are an indication of where we are headed as far as trends and style go. This year the message was clear, it’s a return to flowing feminine style. Each collection had a fluid element that danced down the runway. The pieces grazed the body, making it mysterious and quite sensual. The skin-tight, super fitted look was missing from the collections with exception of Herve Leger. We also took notice of the shoes throughout the week, and they did not disappoint! This summer’s hit, the gladiator, will return for Spring 2009. The difference: it will be a “must have” in nude patent leather, which is like a beautiful extension of the foot with added texture. We also saw a lot of wedge heels, and strappy ankle platforms. There’s nothing delicate about the shoes for Spring, they are eye-catching and make a statement. The prediction on color is bold like the vibrant colors found in a beautiful floral landscape. There were also muted colors like grey used as a backdrop with a pop of color peeking out, as we saw in the BCBG show. We also saw a nice mixture of color and pattern, which DVF’s show portrayed beautifully. Overall, we think you should be excited for Spring 2009. There are no crazy surprises, and no uncomfortable fashion trends headed your way. It was all easy, relaxed, wearable pieces that will flatter the female physique.

Tibi was high on my list of shows that I really wanted to see. I’m always interested in seeing how designer Amy Smilovic uses fabrics, textures, and patterns. There is always something bold about how she mixes elements of design, either in the fabric she chooses or the cut and style of the garment. The collection Tibi presented for Spring ‘09 was clearly Asian inspired. The fabrics were silky, and had beautiful movement while still maintaining structure. The dresses I saw looked really wearable, and would easily work for any number of women.

As with any collection, while there were pieces that looked great on the runway, they will not work for the average woman. Tibi showed ballon-like riding pants that are probably not going to be as flattering on most of us as they are on the models. I will be surprised if they make their way into retail stores.. but who knows I could be completely wrong.

Jean spoke with über-stylist Philip Bloch after the DVF show at Fashion Week

This is Yuli Ziv (from My It Things) and I bright and early on the first day of New York Fashion Week. The scene was crazy, as we tried to get credentials and passes to all the lounges backstage. The lines were long, and security was tight. There were Divas galore, ohhh … and so much more! I’m a mother of two, and I’ve seen more grown women have tantrums this weekend than both my boys combined. It’s all about who you are, and who you think you are. Sometimes (most times) those two are very different. I literally thought one girl was about to lay down on the runway at the Tibi show and start kicking and screaming because she didn’t get a front row seat. It’s time to get a little perspective here! So, while it may seem glamorous, and sometimes it is, it’s also a big ol’ cat-fight and grown women acting silly. Ahhh.. sometimes a scandal is fun!

Catch the pulse of Fashion Week at InsideTheTents

As I prepare for Fashion Week, I ponder the aspect in which I intend to report to my readers. Throughout the week I will constantly be asking myself: How does Fashion week pertain to my readers? What aspect of Fashion do I want to report on? What emerging trends do I see? Can these trends translate easily to wearable fashion? And what will satiate the fashion hungry?
I want to try to observe all aspects of Fashion Week. My hope is that there is something for everyone to enjoy reading. So, I ask you… what do you want to know about Fashion Week?

The preparations are well under way. The tents are up, the designers are finalizing their show, the models are getting thinner by the minute, and the city is abuzz waiting to see what the fashion forecast is going to be. New York Fashion Week is the kick-off to fashion weeks around the world. New York, London, Milan, and Paris are referred to as “the big four”. Fashion week has gone from being strictly for the press, to being one of the year’s hottest events. The famous, the infamous, the celebs, the fabulous, the press, and (of course) fashion magazine editors. This year, though, you’ll be hearing from some of the most independent voices in fashion - the bloggers. We will take you inside the tents, and give the real scoop. We will twitter our initial impressions, and how it all relates to you … our readers. I’m personally looking forward to seeing shows like Diane Von Furstenberg, BCBG, TIBI, Mara Hoffman, and Zac Posen. Let us know if there are any designers you would like us to focus on. In the meantime, bookmark InsideTheTents and keep your finger on the pulse of Fashion Week.

Announcing InsideTheTents !!

The Style Observer and MyItThings, in cooperation with American Express (a major sponsor of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009) had launched InsideTheTents, the fashion world’s 1st initiative to bring together all the independent voices in the fashion world during Fashion’s most important week.

InsideTheTents will be the destination for all of the best content produced inside the tents. Each contributor will be adding their content to an independent “dashboard” of news, insight, and analysis as it happens. Whether it’s a quick message from Twitter, a video interview, a snapshot just uploaded to Flickr, or a just-posted Blog article - you’ll see it unfold at InsideTheTents.

InsideTheTents has assembled a Who’s Who of fashion and beauty bloggers who are already attending Fashion Week. If you’re attending and want your voice to be heard, contact us. If you’re a fan of Fashion Week like we are, grab some code and embed the badge below on your site for a week. Tell all your readers to get their fashion Week fix InsideTheTents