FASHION

New York Fashion Week –  or the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, to give it its full corporate name – is set to take place early next month, less than three weeks away now. The perfect way to ease yourself out of summer and into the fall, this season’s Fashion Week lineup is one of the most hotly anticipated to date, giving you the opportunity to catch a sneak peak of the top Spring 2012 collections from the world’s best designers.

Today we’re bringing you a New York Fashion Week preview to set you up for the big occasion, where we’ll give you information on the top shows, how to get invited to the main events and – most importantly – how best to dress at a fashion show if you’re lucky enough to get in!

The Lineup

New York Fashion Week has been going since 1943 and is widely regarded as the hottest media event in town. Taking place twice a year, in February and September, all the stellar names and upcoming designers can be found displaying their wares throughout the city during what is usually a hectic and exciting seven days for participants and attendees alike.

The schedule for this Fashion Week is jam packed as you would expect (you can view it in full here) so we’ve narrowed it down here to our top three choices, to give you an idea of which shows are simply must-goes.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG  September 11th, 4PM, Theatre

Around since the 1970s, the Belgian-American fashion designer remains one of the biggest names in the business, and rightly takes a prominent place in this NY Fashion Week lineup. DVF is worth seeing for her iconic status alone, considering she has been awarded a lifetime achievement award by the CFDA and has appeared as a judge on Project Runway. And, as her Fall 2011 collection showed everyone, she and her label are still at the cutting edge of fashion innovation.

TORY BURCH  September 13th, 9AM, Alice Tully Hall

Another megastar name in the industry, in recent years American designer Tory Burch has seen her lines garner huge critical and commercial attention throughout the fashion world. Despite the fact that her label has only been around since 2004, she has become a favorite on the sample sale circuit, helped in no small part by an endorsement from queen Oprah Winfrey herself. We can see Tory Burch being one of the big hitters at this season’s Fashion Week and, best of all, the Tory Burch label is based out of Manhattan, so it makes sense to support your own!

NORMA KAMALI  September 14th, 9AM, David Rubenstein Atrium

Norma Kamali is one of the most respected innovators in the entire design world. She was responsible for the unforgettable red swimsuit worn by Farah Fawcett in that famous 1976 Charlie’s Angels poster, which gives you an idea of how deep her influence on the fashion industry has been. Her slot in the schedule is not to be missed, despite the early start.

Of course these three examples represent a mere handful of what will be on show. Some other great recommendations we have been given include Cynthia Rowley, Song Jun Wan, Lela Rose and Nanette Lepore, so you certainly won’t be short of great fashion talent to peruse.

How To Get Invited To A New York Fashion Week Show

On of the top ways to get into the best shows during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is to put in some work. That is to say, to volunteer to help out on the logistical/administrative side of things. Similar to the Tribeca Film Festival, volunteers are offered free passes to many of the main shows, as well as getting exclusive participatory merchandise. Free tickets and free stuff, as well as a nice little addition to your resume – you can’t go wrong! Contact IMG now to inquire about voluntary work at this season’s Fashion Week.

If you are a keen follower of The Vogue City, then there is a good chance you like to blog about living and style just like we do. Particularly if you write for an established website or blog, you may be eligible for press credentials. If you have never blogged before, it’s probably too late to make a name for yourself in time for the upcoming Fashion Week, but who knows where you’ll be come next February’s show. Front row press seats could await you in the near future!

This is probably the riskiest one, but if all else fails, just turn up! You might get lucky and be allowed to take the seat of someone who doesn’t show. After all, not everyone who has a ticket is going to be able to make it. However. don’t just stand outside in a t-shirt, sweats and uggs – make sure you look the part! It’s by no means a sure bet, but if you’re really passionate about your fashion like we are then it’s certainly worth a try!

Dressing For Fashion Week

For most people, what they are wearing themselves is even more important than the clothes on the models they have come to see. We’re all vain creatures at heart after all! But seriously, what better occasion to display your superior fashion taste than New York Fashion Week?

Of course everyone has their own style, so we can’t tell you exactly what to wear, but we can give you some broad tips that will help you to get your Fashion Week outfit plans underway. Having listened to what some of the best fashion writers in the business had to say, we have compiled this quick list of tips that we think will serve you well. But remember, whatever you decide to wear, enjoy your time at this season’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week!

• Flats. Everyone recommends flats. Remember that Fashion Week can be a lot of work, especially if you want to see a lot of shows, so make sure your feet are nice and comfortable. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but make sure to pack a pair in your bag for when the going gets tough.
• Bring a camera. You don’t want to miss your big opportunity to record some great fashion week memories. As we’ve said already, pretty much all of the biggest names in the game will be there!
• Don’t play it safe. Be edgy, be unique – this is the one time when you can wear what you like and be pretty much guaranteed that someone else will outdo you on the eccentricity scale. Experiment!
• Some practical accessory ideas that keep popping up: Wet Wipes, an extra cell phone battery, a notebook (either the computerized or old fashioned variety), an unlimited Metrocard if you’re up for braving the stuffy subways – and a big bag for all this stuff!
• Whether you’re going for boots or heels, Preston Davis of Keep It Chic has somes great suggestions: “I have two pairs of the most perfect Jil Sander OTK boots with a low heel and my Valentino studded sandals, which are unbelievably comfortable.” But remember, don’t forget the flats!

MIRELA: I live in an apartment in Manhattan, which means I have to be something of a Houdini when it comes to organizing my closet. Now that we are finally seeing the first signs that spring is about to make a reappearance in our lives, I have to think about taking my clothes out for the season. As I have taken advantage of a lot of the great sample sales we publish every day, I have a lot of new stuff as well. How can I use what I have in my closet, plus the new clothes I have bought, to create a look book for myself? Where should I start? What are the key factors – my age, body type, profession, lifestyle?

TRINITY ROSE: This is a great question, and this is exactly why people hire me. Of course it’s really a question I could answer best when working with you in person, by coming in to work with you, by going through your closet and having you fill out my questionnaire and intake form. The way I work is very visual and personally tailored to the individual and is not about following trends per say. This is why people get such good results when working with me.

What I can tell you without working with you in person is that when you pack up your winter wardrobe it’s really important to donate any items that are worn out or that don’t fit right; it’s important to cleanse! Also, Wearable Collections has a great, super-easy and free clothing pick-up program that I highly recommend. Secondly, when organizing your spring wardrobe make sure you pick a color palate and that each piece coincides with and compliments the others – each piece purchased should be able to go with at least four or five other items. Get the idea? Also, use basics as your staples and then use key style pieces and accessories to add that extra punch and flair.

When going for trend pieces make sure that they are actually flattering to your body type. Never wear a piece just because it is in trend! Always choose pieces that are right for what you want to express and that are flattering to your body type. For example, the maxi dress is one of my favorite spring trends. However this can be tricky for someone who is really petite. Also any one who is on the curvy side should choose a maxi dress that has small even patterns nothing with big, bold, wide or sporadic prints. Also, if you are wearing more than one trend item make sure that they blend. There’s nothing more saddening to me than a girl walking around wearing a bunch of unflattering trends that don’t go together. This happens quite often and screams that you are trying too hard. Straw accessories however are a spring trend that will work on pretty much everyone. It’s just a matter of choosing the pieces that are right for you and then rocking them!

By Mirela Gluck

As a personal stylist and owner of a holistic Image consultant business: Illumé one of the most important tools that I teach my clients is how to use accessories to enhance their looks.

Jewelry is especially key in the realm of accessorizing, and it often goes awry. Accessorizing with Jewelry can make or break an outfit. Done right it can complete a look, done wrong it will only take away. Here are some simple tips to help you get it right:

• When choosing a piece think about what it is “saying” on its own, consider what it is expressing. Ask yourself it is in line with the mood of your outfit, decide if you want to use is as a “contrast” piece to dress something up or down.
• Remember often times less is more.
• If wearing multiple pieces make sure that they blend.
• Consider your color palette and make sure the jewelry is complimentary.

One of my favorite current style’s of jewelry are large vivid pieces that are made of organic looking materials. The jewelry by Selen Design is a perfect example of this.

Below are some of my favorite pieces by her:

When wearing this type of jewelry it is especially important to follow the tips above. Each pieces is a statement on its own, so you want to be careful not to over do it or just slap it on without conscious consideration of how it all goes together.

Remember, style comes from a place of knowing who you are and letting the world see it rather than hiding behind safe, boring or trendy.

Trinity Rose

It’s time to say buh-bye to Winter and hello to Spring! The best thing about Spring’s arrival is all the fabulous shopping. Before you go on your Spring shopping excursion make sure to read this list of our five Spring must haves.

A Burberry Trench Coat Spring is a very fickle time of the year and you can never predict when the next Spring shower will come. So it’s important to be prepared while staying stylish and a perfectly fitting Burberry Trench coat will do the trick. You can wear a Burberry trench coat with everything from your favorite skinny jeans to your cocktail dress. It’s one of those fashion staples you’ll always have in your closet. Don’t forget to top it off with a cute umbrella.

Nude Patent Pumps Nothing kills an outfit more than the wrong pair of shoes. This season’s clothes come in a wide array of nudes, pinks and girly lilacs. It would be a fashion no-no to pair these delicate colors with harsh black shoes so make sure to invest in a great pair of nude heels which will go with all colors of the rainbow. You can’t go wrong with a great pair of patent nude pumps, Michael Kors makes a great pair and they look extremely chic while being extremely affordable!

Bright Handbag A bright Handbag in a punchy Hue will brighten up your whole look. Go for a color you wear often. For instance, if you like pink like we do, opt for a cute pink patent leather handbag to add a splash of color. Bright colors are definitely a hot trend for Spring and adding a bright colored handbag is the easiest way to get in on the trend. We like this one from Kate Spade‘s Spring collection.

New Shades Every fashionista needs a great pair of sunglasses. Designer sunglasses come in all shapes and sizes and it’s important to find a pair that looks best with your bone structure and face shape. The sales reps at the glasses stores are trained to help you find the best fit for your face shape so don’t be shy to ask them for help. You can also just try on pairs until you find your match! We suggest a great pair of oversize Chanel sunglasses, they never go out of style!

A Little White Dress White is the color of the season and there is no better way to show off your tan than in a little white dress. Look for a sheath style dress that is versatile and can take you format he office to a poolside party. You can dress up your little white dress with your bright handbag and bright heels! It’s the perfect blank canvas for color!

Millissa Mathai