The Best Model & Style Reports from New York Fashion Week

There’s so much great material out there during New York Fashion Week, that coming up with an original blog post would be like Zara wasting time developing a signature collection when knock-offs are so easy and marketable.

Some of my favorite articles/pictorials:

Male Model Conrad Bromfield

Walk Like a Man in the New York Times

Read the truth about bodies per square-foot in a New York model apartment and get inside the minds of men you formerly may have perceived as mindless.

Model Morphosis (also NY Times)

See models before and after hair and make-up. If you have a big nose, shaggy brows, teeny eyes, or resemble an alien—and really never thought you could model—these images will give you hope.

Model Nova Malanova transformed for Thakoon

The Best Beauty Looks from New York Fashion Week, Spring 2014, Harper’s Bazaar

Undone updos (super sexy), blue eyeliner (but so not your junior high style), blue eye shadow (knew I saved it for a reason), and easy, natural, low-key looks like this at Alexander Wang:

Cool Beauty at Alexander Wang

Fashion Report, Harper’s Bazaar

And, last but not least, read The Fashion Infomer‘s NYFW Spring 2014 Diary

You will feel like you are there and you are almost as cool as TFI. (You are a little cooler than you were before you were in on TFI.)

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When my three-year-old was watching this video of the Carolina Herrera show with me today (see below), she kept asking which one of the models is my friend. True, Audi is a model—Carolina Herrera’s house model, no less. BUT having your songs played in a show is such a promotion from walking the runway.

Le Blonde’s Audi Martel at Fashion Week, Italian Vogue

This pic Italian Vogue snapped of Audi during New York Fashion Week proves the Le Blonde lead singer still can strike a pose. She just may not have much time to do so once the world hears her band…

Look for my Rebelmom.com feature next week. Hopefully I’ll be channeling a little Audi!

In my All Saints Countour Dress

Style savior #1: Maria Casabianca at Soma Boutique.  I dashed into her store (a gem, tucked in Jessica Ryan’s salon by the Westport train station) and told her I had half an hour to find a great outfit that says “stylish working mom.” She pulled a few looks, starting with a black dress by Bobi—simple soft cotton, but cut like couture, beautiful fit (and beautiful price: $100). Done, 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Note to self: Go back when I can browse Soma’s racks at a more leisurely pace and check out the new home section; it was hard not to pick up a few throw pillows on my way out the door.

Style savior #2 (in chronological order; don’t make me pick a favorite): Jennifer Lau, supermom of 5 and creator of the stunning Genevieve Lau Jewelry collection. I got to her house at 3:20, which left a half hour before she had to load up her kids for soccer practice. Well before then, I was bedecked in a “Beijing” necklace, “Chicago with Bling” bracelet, “Sao Paulo” earrings, and a rainbow of “Moscow” rings (they fit perfectly, which must be some kind of sign).

Genevieve Lau “Moscow” Rings

Suddenly my fashion statement went from “Frumpy” to “Fabulous.” Jennifer is like that fairy godmother in Cinderella, I swear.

After a quick stop at Shoes-N-More for a pair of Michael Kors pumps (actually Michael by Michael Kors, but I say a Kors is a Kors, of Kors, of Kors) and some super cute gold ballet flats since I’m a shoe-switcheroo wimpy kinda fashion gal, I made it home by 4:30, packed, sped away from the teary-eyed children (more reasons ballet flats are useful), and caught a 5:30 train to New York.

The bar at the W Hotel looked a lot like a fashion show. In fact, thanks to Rent the Runway, a brilliant business launched by two HBS grads, a closet of frocks from the catwalks stood in the lobby. Aspiring fashionistas can rent a designer outfit for four days for 10% of the price tag (hotel guests get an added 50% off). Good to know, but of course I had no need for their services this trip.

I dressed quickly and raced straight to the main attraction of my night: Joe Fresh’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

The New York Flagship Store,                                     510 Fifth Avenue

It’s an awesome store any day of the week, both architecturally and due to what’s on the racks: the cool Canadian brand’s J. Crew-with-an-edge looks (at even better prices). But on Fashion’s Night Out, Joe Fresh morphed from store to museum, presenting The Art of Mannequins: A Fresh Ralph Pucci Retrospective. I was especially excited to see these iconic masterpieces in person, because I did the copywriting for the exhibit. What a fun, fascinating project!

Stay tuned for more on Joe Fresh and Ralph Pucci, including the video that wowed the crowds on Fashion’s Night Out, and maybe for that Stylemama shot of the Bobi dress…

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