Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2010 Schedule

Although I have been covering fashion week for years now, it is always an exciting moment when the tent is up, and you're walking in it for the first time. This year may be the last time the tents are raised in Bryant Park, but everyone from the press, to the poseurs, will be there starting September 10th.

Yes, that's me in the "can't-miss" green jacket. I am sitting backstage at the M-A-C- Cosmetics lounge during Fall 2009's shows, looking a lot less than glam. When I'm reporting on shows, though, I'm not there to be photographed...I am the photographer!

I have just gotten a notice of the preliminary schedule. For those of you who don't follow fashion, there will still be plenty of beauty and lifestyle oriented material on this blog for you to enjoy, plus the Advice Sisters Fall What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column. For those of you who can't get enough Fashion, here's the schedule as it currently stands:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

9 AM -MICHAEL ANGEL Salon
10 AM -BCBGMAXAZRIA Tent
1 PM -DUCKIE BROWN Salon
3 PM -PORTS 1961 Tent
6-10 PM -FASHION’S NIGHT OUT
7 PM -CESAR GALINDO M2 Ultra Lounge, 530 W 28th Street

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

9 AM -CYNTHIA STEFFE Salon
11 AM -YIGAL AZROUËL Promenade
2 PM -CHARLOTTE RONSON Promenade
6 PM -NICOLE MILLER Salon
7 PM -THIS DAY/ARISE: AFRICAN FASHION COLLECTIVE Promenade
9 PM -VENEXIANA Salon

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

10 AM -LACOSTE Tent
11 AM -GEORGES CHAKRA Promenade
1 PM -ANDY & DEBB Salon
3 PM -ACADEMY of ART UNIVERSITY Tent
4 PM -CHRISTIAN SIRIANO Promenade
7 PM -CHADO RALPH RUCCI Tent
8 PM -VIVIENNE TAM Promenade

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

10 AM -LELA ROSE Salon
11 AM -DEREK LAM Promenade
1 PM -DKNY
2 PM -THUY Salon
3 PM -HERVÉ LÉGER BY MAX AZRIA Promenade
4 PM -DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Tent
5 PM -REBECCA TAYLOR Salon

7 PM -TULEH Promenade
8 PM -CUSTO BARCELONA Tent
9 PM -VASSILIOS KOSTETSOS Salon

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

10 AM -CAROLINA HERRERA Tent
11 AM -CARLOS MIELE Promenade
Noon -JILL STUART
1 PM -TRACY REESE Salon
2 PM -DONNA KARAN
4 PM -YEOHLEE
5 PM -TADASHI SHOJI Salon

6 PM -TONY COHEN Promenade
7 PM -GOTTEX Tent

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

10 AM -BADGLEY MISCHKA Tent
11 AM -BRIAN REYES Promenade
Noon -TONI MATICEVSKI Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street
1 PM -PAMELLA ROLAND Salon
2 PM -MAX AZRIA Tent
3 PM -DENNIS BASSO Promenade
6 PM -WILLOW Salon
7 PM -TIBI Promenade
8 PM -NARCISO RODRIGUEZ Tent
9 PM -TONI FRANCESC Salon

WEDNESDAY-SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

9 AM -TORY BURCH Salon
10 AM -MICHAEL KORS Tent
11 AM -NANETTE LEPOR- Promenade
2 PM -3.1 PHILLIP LIM Tent
3 PM
MILLY BY MICHELLE SMITH Promenade
5 PM -ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH Salon
6 PM -ANNA SUI Tent
7 PM -DOO.RI Promenade

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

9 AM -RALPH LAUREN Skylight Studio, 275 Hudson Street
10 AM -RALPH LAUREN Skylight Studio, 275 Hudson Street
11 AM -RALPH LAUREN Skylight Studio, 275 Hudson Street
1 PM -ALLUDE Salon
2 PM -ISAAC MIZRAHI Tent
3 PM -TRIAS Promenade
4 PM -CALVIN KLEIN
5 PM -CALVIN KLEIN
6 PM -CHOCHENG Salon
7 PM -ARGENTINEAN DESIGNER COLLECTIONS Promenade
8 PM -TOMMY HILFIGER Tent

Fresh Faces from Fashion Week-Friday September 12, 2009

IMG's Fern Mallis backstage at Carmen Marc Valvo


Emma Rossum waving goodbye to Carmen, just as the security guards allowed members of the press backstage.




Aaron Lorenzo, in another great outfit, posing at the end of Fashion Week--we will see him on the runways, next season!

Cognac Wellerlane and Heather Packer, one of the hard-working security guards "I'll try to look mean," the actually really sweet guard, said!

One of the very hard working students who volunteer as Ushers. We will see her designs on the runway, someday.

Shelly Nash, who had just won a BlackBerry Curve from the TMobile/Blackberry Booth on the last day!

Me, Esther Nash, and Cognac Wellerlane pose in the Visit Seoul Korea booth after the Omnia Luo show.

....I will be posting full stories about Fashion Week as quickly as I can....but I want to make them great! Please be patient and check back daily (or subscribe to my blog feed) to see everything I did...and more! ALISON

Fresh Faces from Fashion Week-Thursday September 11, 2009

As we remember the tragedy of September 11th, the excitement of Mercedes Bens Spring 2009 Fashion Week, continues:

Jay Manuel, is best known as the director of photo shoots on the reality TV show; American Next Top Model. He is in the front row at Reem Acra's show during the rehersal, with a young girl named "Britany" who apparently is being shown the Fashion Week "ropes" by Jay this week. I heard him giving the young girl tips about how to behave in the front row. Then he left her to go backstage and do an interview with designer Reem Acra. Yes, Jay is wearing a pleated...uhhh...skirt?

Amy Smilovic is the woman behind the Tibi designs. She paid a surprise visit to the American Express Skybox and graciously posed with me for a photo. The skybox is a special opportunity for American Express cardmembers. I will be blogging about my experience in the skybox, shortly!

A surprise guest, the radiant, Diane Von Furstenberg, electrified the American Express Skybox audience with her account of how she started in the fashion business, her feelings about being the genius behind the enduring "wrap dress," and her favorite charities. " I always wanted to empower women," said Diane. "Every woman is strong, even though sometimes you have to bring out that strength from deep within." She is certainly a role model for women, everywhere,

Dutch makeup artist David Stella with a stunning, Dutch model backstage at the G-Star runway show.

Sherrie and Britany, mother and daughter visiting the American Express Skybox at Bryant Park for Britany's 16th birthday. Britany wants to be a model --but both Mom and daughter are lovely, aren't they? Watch for the Advice Sisters Feature on the American Express Fashion Week Skybox experience..coming soon!

Model Aaron Lorenzo, in an eye-catching outfit at the Bryant Park TMobile/Blackberry Lounge

Designer Reem Acra's adorable pooch, "Lulu" --the best dressed doggie in the tents!

Aurora Nessly, one of the charming hostesses at the TMobile/Blackbery Lounge

Danity Kane and singer Ashanti backstage post-show with Designer Reem Acra (and "Lulu")

All content and photos (unless otherwise specifically marked) --Alison Blackman Dunham for the Advice Sisters copyright © 2008 all rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham of THE ADVICE SISTERS® The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. Please feel free to link to this post. For other permissions, email the Advice Sisters advicesisters(at)advicesisters(dot)net

Fashion Week Spring 2008-Abaete

The sun was shining and there was just a bit of a breeze, when I entered the backstage area to check out David Cruz and his Redken team for the Abaeté show. I got there so early that no one was backstage. This was my first show for Spring 200 8, and I was really excited!

Here is a sight virtually no ones sees, the backstage area with literally no one in it yet!

The backstage area didn't stay empty for long, however. Here is hair stylist David Cruz working on his first model of the show. The concept for the hair, he explained, was inspired by the clothes. Elegant, "old Hollywood," with glamorous waves clipped smoothly to the sides of the head, with the rest falling in soft waves, gently crimped with a curling iron. The look was glamorous, but not too "done" and very youthful and modern *(chic, but with a sense of humor). Girls with short hair had it blown out straight. The styles may look effortless, but it it takes patience, at least one extra set of hands to smooth, and then add texture, lots of brushes, and a bunch of Redken products, to make the look come to life. For more information on how to do this look, and what products were used, check our FEATURES page at: http://www.advicesisters.net/Features/Features.html in mid-September, where I will be listing all the photo features from Fashion Week with full details!



Ayako, from NARS, was the lead on the makeup team. She brought her sweet little dog who sat patiently while everyone cooed and photographed him! (photo left). Once the models arrived, however, it was all business for Ayako, who said her inspiration for the makeup also came form the designer and her clothes-- elegant and youthful, but with just a bit of an "edge," Abaeté's Spring 2008 designs reminded her of Miami, and art deco. For details on the products used and how you can re-create this look at home, check our FEATURES page at: http://www.advicesisters.net/Features/Features.html in mid-September.


Creative Nail Design is the nail company of the runways and Angie from Creative Nail told me that the company is doing a staggering 50+ shows this season. That's a lot of manicures! French manicures with a bright, cotton candy pink, custom blended for the show, was the manicure style for this show. For details on the products used and what's going to be hot for nails, for Spring 2008, check our FEATURES page http://www.advicesisters.net/Features/Features.html in mid-September.

I had just a few minutes to check out the clothes, since I couldn't even get standing room by the time I left backstage, but while I was still backstage, viewing the collection while the clothes were still in plastic bags, I saw this black dress with rows of deco crystals. You can't tell from my photo, but the deco-style crystall-ed neckline caught the light and sparkled brilliantly against the black fabric. It was so pretty I couldn't help exclaiming out loud to no one in particular: "I love this dress!" The woman standing next to the dress smiled at me, and said: "I'm the designer." I introduced myself and felt a bit foolish that I didn't recognize her! Many of the clothes in the collection had color-blocked details and I realized that Ayako's assessment of "Miami art deco" was correct! The very pretty and wearable collection featured "ice cream" colors of light turquoise, pink, beige and a hint of black, plus lots of white as background. The lines were simple, tailored, nothing puffy or glittery, except the black dress with the crystals around the neck. The collection wasn't stuffy, but not overly casual. One "resortwear" type outfit features very wide legged, cuffed pants, worn with black flats and white sunglasses--one of the few pants items to be shown.




ALISON


*all text and photos by Alison Blackman Dunham -- copyright © 2007 all rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham of THE ADVICE SISTERS® No portion of this content, including illustrations, may be copied or used in any without written permission. Please do not take my work! If you want to use text or photo (with proper credit) please ask for permission first at: advicesisters@advicesisters.net. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark.