Cynthia Rowley. Images by Cara Stricker. Text by Ryley Tice and Liz Doupnik.

Show: Cynthia Rowley
Date: September 9, 2011
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Stage at Lincoln Center
Favorite Look: A tailored black blazer with a painterly floral print worn over a patterned multicolor tank and anchored by cropped black pants with corresponding geometric seaming and orange cuffs. Metallic gold sandals referenced the show’s El Dorado undertones.
Quote: “I wanted to make the clothes a little animated, give them a life of their own.” –Cynthia Rowley
Additional Notes: An angular backdrop reflected the sharply structured construction of dresses and boxy tops, which were softened by enchanting golden touches. -RT

Show: Richard Chai
Date: September 8, 2011
Time: 11am
Venue: Lincoln Center
Inspiration: ’90s Mud Club with a tropical vibe courtesy of clashing rave-Hawaiian prints.
Music: DJ Sebastian Perrin’s epic track of female vocals over a pulsating back beat.
Favorite Look: The navy and white blazers, which were sophisticated and could be styled in a multitude of ways.
Quote: A word with menswear stylist Christian Stroble.
Liz Doupnik: What were your thoughts on the show?
Christian Stroble: Richard Chai delivered a trend-happy collection with mismatching florals and stripes while blasting us with color.
Liz: What was your favorite piece?
Christian: I loved the electric blue touch on the men’s oxfords—they’ll be great for editorial. – LD

Richard Chai

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Richard Chai

Illesteva, plus Patrik Ervell, Cynthia Rowley, Loden Dager, Elise Øverland, Suzanne Rae and Vivienne Tam.
Images by Brandie Raasch.

While Fashion Week is technically about clothing, the weekend’s best “show” was that of eyewear brand Illesteva, where a full orchestra served as models. Wearing various styles from the Fall 2011 collection, they worked their way through early 19th century and contemporary symphonies. Waiters greeted guests with a platter of glasses to touch and try. Handmade in Italy and France, the novel specs come in predominately classic shapes reworked with modern materials.

Close on the innovative heels of the musical spectacular was Elise Øverland’s presentation on the ice-rink in front of The Standard Hotel. Waiting for the show to begin, guests received spiked cider. Once out on the ice, models eschewed skating for standing around in furs and digital prints, which popped against the monochrome rink. Silhouettes were kept long and lean. Finally, to ensure everyone got their fill of action, Johnny Weir came out to perform a few tricks.

Moving on to Patrik Ervell…

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Illesteva

Cynthia Rowley

…the term glide took on a different meaning. “Flight suit was my jumping off point,” explained Ervell. “I’m really interested in garments that have these extreme functions, that are extremely beautiful.” The result of the designer’s attraction was silk painted bomber jackets and slim-fitting embellished flight suits in orange rubber Adirondack. Billowing white parachutes lining the runway reiterated the aeronautical vibe.

Loden Dager, meanwhile, envisioned an uptown boy with downtown sensibilities, the type who would wear a mink motorcycle jacket with a wool sweater and tailored trousers, or top pajama pants with a cropped leather jacket and sweater. A pair of hand-painted brogues gave him just a touch of ’80 East Village punk.

Loden Dager

Suzanne Rae

Vivienne Tam

Makeup was the medium of choice this weekend at PS1′s Move! A two-day fusion of fashion and art, the event featured temporary installations, films and performances from creative pairs, including Rob Pruitt and Marc Jacobs, Tauba Auerbach and Ohne Titel, Ryan McNamara and Robert Geller, and more.

Untitled by Terence Koh and Italo Zucchelli (Calvin Klein Collection)

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Alice Lane’s Midas palms

Carrie by Olaf Breuning and Cynthia Rowley

The Makeover You Never Knew You Wanted by Cheryl and American Apparel

Lead image by Hatnim Lee

At first, perched patiently in my seat, I was thinking Gotham Hall would make a perfect palace for New York City’s most pristine princesses. But when my gaze came back to earth, where mistresses of culture like Thelma Golden and Sarah Sophie Flicker sat firmly grounded in their seats, it occurred to me Ms. Rowley might have something more than a just a bit of clever charm in store.

And indeed, she did. A thunderous banging began in the balcony, war whoops echoed through the hall, and out marched a parade of princesses who had been well beyond the castle walls. They had been let loose with the wild things, skinned the elbows of their canary yellow dresses and swam through saltwater that left their hair in soft matted messes, streaked through with florescent strands. They hunted for feathers to lash onto their organza trappings and dyed them with berries from the forest floor. Around their necks they wore toadstools that had grown under the full moon after a thunderstorm; and indigo cobwebs stretched across their backs, protecting them from anyone that might try to steal them back to the pristine palace—a place they had long forgotten.

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Images by Hatnim Lee

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Click “Read More” for additional images.