Sunday, Valentine’s Day, was the SIMON SPURR Fall 2010 fashion show.  This was Simon’s first runway show after several successful seasons of menswear presentations.  He debuted his new high-end tailored collection SIMON SPURR.

Designer Simon Spurr said of his collection, “I am English and my brand is decidedly American.  I really wanted to establish my British roots and deliver something modern and elegant into American fashion week.”

Models walked on the runway to songs such as:

1) Who Dares Wins – The Streets
2) Impossible – Daniel Merriweather
3) Dream City – Free Energy
4) She Loves Everybody – Chester French
5) You Talk – Babyshambles
6) Nobody Could Change Your Mind – The Generationals

Notable attendees included:  Milo Ventimiglia (NBC’s Heroes), Anna Wintour, Robert Verdi,  and Arden Wohl.

The collection was an eclectic mix of colorful pieces in aubergine, blueberry, and eggplant as well as tailored classic pinstriped suiting.  The fabrics had a lot of pattern, texture, and sheen.  I hope we’ll be seeing a lot more of these trends in menswear this coming Fall!

Victoria Beckham received rave reviews for the gorgeous collection of dresses she showed at New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010, and the makeup was equally praise worthy. Victoria’s vision for the show was minimal makeup with maximum impact. The result: nude lips, silvery eyes and shimmery skin with a play on textures.

Victoria’s Fall 2010 collection is full of gorgeously structured silhouettes with beautiful draping detail and her signature zippers. The color palette–rich emerald, paprika and sapphire hues paired with nudes, metallics and black–added to the collection’s modernity. Make sure to check out the collection on Style.com.

A fun fact?  The private residence where the show took place, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, was featured in the “Sex and the City” movie. Remember the scene where Big shows Carrie the apartment he has bought her, complete with fashionista (read: MY) dream closet? It was filmed in the room where Victoria did the presentations.

PRODUCTS USED

• Lancôme Color Design Eyeshadow in Optic and Crème Lustré Lancôme
• Lancôme Ombre Magnetique in Silver (NEW for Fall 2010)
• Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara in Excessive Black
• Lancôme Ageless Minérale Perfecting and Setting Mineral Powder in Translucent
• Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #1
• Lancôme Blush Subtil in Miel Glace
• Lancôme Effacernes Waterproof Concealer (used on the lips)
• Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Rich Cashmere

For the makeup, Francelle did a modern take on 1930’s Hollywood glamour in keeping with Victoria’s “Dick Tracy” inspiration for the clothes.  She paired a metallic eye with a pale, nude lip. First, Francelle swept Color Design Eyeshadow in Optic on the entire lid to the brow bone and added Color Design Eyeshadow in Crème Lustré to the lower lid. Ombre Magnetique in Silver (coming this fall!) was used in the crease for a shiny, metallic finish. The new Hypnôse Drama Mascara coated the top lashes only. The skin was dusted with Ageless Minérale Powder in Translucent for a luminous complexion. Blush Subtil in Miel Glace was applied lightly to the cheekbones for an added touch of color. For the lips, Francelle first dotted them with concealer (a great trick for ensuring you get a super nude pout with staying power) then applied L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Rich Cashmere. The nails were short and groomed with just clear nail polish and the hair, by Didier Malige, was pulled back in messy version of a French twist.

Lebanese Couturier Abed Mahfouz to Launch Ready-to-Wear Collection at New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2010-2011.  Mahfouz, who presented his couture collections in Paris this past January,  debuted the Ready-to-Wear collection Wednesday, February 17^th at the Altman Building.

Located away from the tents of Bryant Park, the Altman Building is in the heart of the architecturally interesting downtown Chelsea area.  The building itself is a landmark with some retail history – it was originally built in 1896 as the carriage house for the B. Altman’s Department Store.  The elegantly-styled and recently restored Altman Building is a perfect fit for this ready-to-wear collection.

My favorite look is this draped v-neck dress.  It’s so feminine and echoes old-world Hollywood elegance.   It’s so wearable for women with a variety of shapes, the forgiving drape is flattering to curvy shapes and adds curves for ladies who need them.

Inspired by a woman’s femininity, Mahfouz has created a glamorous and modern line for his induction into the prêt-à-porter category; Mahfouz’s designs celebrate the female form, accenting structured silhouettes through draping, highlighting a woman’s elegant shoulders and slim waist.

Mahfouz establishes the mood for fall through his color palette, which varies from black and ruby red, to cobalt blue and grey marine.  Deep, rich jewel tones that are not only undeniably elegant, but also reflective of the season.

Mahfouz has also paired unlikely fabrics, such as wool with silk, to create movement, and incorporating snakeskin jersey, jacquard with embossed circles and 3D-like accessories, to add texture.

The strong shoulder in both this slim jacket and this boat neck gown slim the waist and balance the hips.  I can’t wait to see the Abed Mahfouz  Ready-to-Wear Collection in stores!

Season six winner of Project Runway Irina Shabayeva debuted her Fall 2010 collection on Saturday, February 13^th during New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage 37.  Shabayeva created a fantasy of intricate beading, textile construction and exotic materials inspired by a sense of freedom and untethered journey of flight.  Hand-sewn creations of soft cashmeres, silk-screened and hand- painted wools were showcased side-by-side with structurally sculpted bodices and flight inspired flounces.

Materials ranged from natural to industrial as creations were swirled in feathers and patterns only born in nature. Tupperware-engineered materials (seriously, you HAVE to see this!) provided the hard edges and solid structures delicately balanced with luxurious materials like cashmere, supple leathers, double faced wool and fur.  An unusual partnership with an alternative view to fashion and design allowed Shabayeva to join Tupperware’s effort of inspiring women around the world through confidence and empowerment.

Irina said,  “Knowing that Tupperware is so passionate about empowering women, it was easy to implement an element of determination into the clothing.”  She added, “To me, fashion and the design process is liberating, fun and empowering.”  What could be more true?

Tupperware Brands’ Chairman and CEO Rick Goings was enthusiastic about Irina’s creative talent, saying that when they saw Irina on Project Runway, they were “simply in awe of her of talent and vision,” and as “a company that has long been focused on innovative design, we’re thrilled to work with someone who is forward-thinking and whose work is so inspiring.”

It is that kind of idea that makes Fashion Week (and the fashion industry) so exciting!  It is thrilling for us to see looks on the runway that are so different and innovative.

Highlights from the Fall collection include intricate hand-painted prints, pheasant feather dresses and custom made aviator hats.  A strapless white cocktail dress made from 8 different wings of Tupperware materials impressed attendees along with a black glider with hand carved leather wing paired with leather panel pants.

We are hoping that in the future we will get to see more from Irina Shabayeva on runways everywhere!  I am really digging on this white dress. Don’t you love?
While I was checking out looks from this show I could not help but wish I could see Lady Gaga in some of these numbers.  When I think fashion innovation and FUN, I think of a Lady Gaga video.  She is truly a fashion icon – love her or not – because she dares to wear runway looks off the runway.

Irina Shabayeva, can we see some ready-to-wear?  I’d love to see this white dress translated into real life!