It's Fashion Week

L.A. Fashion Week is wrapping up, Project Runway has had it's finale and soon celebrities will be jet-setting to the next affair.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in L.A. is a fabulous spring affair giving us great glimpses of the upcoming fashions. The Ed Hardy collection was especially colorful and busy with models wearing uber-long nails in yellows and oranges.

Kevan Hall's collection (photo left) was a beautiful and classy look full of femininity, leaving me hoping for some fabulous party invites in the spring for an excuse to wear his designs.

Lauren Conrad also showed at LA Fashion Week. Her collection featured full-skirted mini dresses, longer dresses of flowing fabric and a fresh spring color palette. Of course many celebs were there to cheer her on.

A month ago, in New York, the Project Runway designers faced off for the finale and a chance at hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of prizes.



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Fashion Week Update

Happy Monday morning! It's mild and NOT raining in NYC today so I'm pleased as punch to get on over to the tents and see what other fabulous frocks will be sent down the runways.

Yesterday I spent some girlfriend time with my best friend who flew in to join me for a few days. We found 5th avenue and our budgets went to hell in a hand basket faster than you can say Prada. Speaking of which...it was my first time in Prada and I absolutely fell in love. All of those beautiful bags lined up and waiting for me to take them home...it was too much excitement for me. I couldn't decide as I loved almost all of them, so bought my favorite perfume for now. I'll be back Prada. Don't you worry.

Bag Borrow or Steal (who have changed their name to Avelle) gave me a fabulous bag to carry around at fashion week. I didn't know what bag they were sending over, so it was a major surprise to find this limited edition Louis Vuitton waiting for me at my hotel!

This Louis Vuitton 'Graduate' Monogram Jokes Tote is emblazoned with jokes dear to Richard Prince, the Graduate bag represents the essence of this artist from New York. Features a combination of acid colors and monogram canvas with karung snakeskin trim.

Thank you friends at Bag Borrow or Steal for lending me an amazing bag for my fashion week trip! I loved the surprise and definitely love the bag.

Keep checking back for fabulous fashion updates on the blog all week. Great news and trends will be seen on the newsletter tomorrow morning. Make sure you are subscribed!

NYC Ready!

Today is the day. Finally I'm off to New York Fashion Week again. It's Spring '09 at fashion week and the tents at Bryant Park will be hopping.

It's packing day right here at fashionista central. I have a dilemma. Do I stuff it all in one suitcase and risk having to pay extra for being over the weight limit, or just bring a second bag and pay extra for that, not having to squash everything? The added bonus of an extra bag is possibly having room for all the goodies I'll score on my shopping excursions. Also, as I'm staying with a friend for a few days and she has a 4th floor walk up. Yes, this means no elevator. All stairs. This is common in New York. It's foreign in my world. I'm not sure I can walk four flights with my handbag in tow, let alone two pieces of luggage. Oh, scratch that. Three pieces of luggage. I also have a carry on. Cripes!

While I ponder my possibilities I'll share with you a morning funny....
My husband and eldest boy came downstairs with curious looks on their faces.
"Mom, why do you need 8 pair of shoes if you're only there for 5 days?" (eight...what happened to the other two?!?)
Eight years old and already perplexed by the female species. Men, they just don't get it. Good thing they didn't notice the 4 or 5 handbags packed in there. And we won't event start with the outfits. Two per day at least! I love New York!!!

Fashion Week Countdown

New York fashion week kicks off in just one week and it's finally hit me that it's nearly here! One of the highlights of my job is sending myself on assignment to Fashion Week. This year I'm dragging along our beloved photographer, Robbie.

J. Robert Schraeder is the professional name. You all know his as Robbie or "the Haute Market photographer".

Robbie has been shooting the Haute Market events for almost two years now. He's also done gigs for most of the magazines in Kansas City, many of the fashion shows and even our own KC Fashion Week in Fall 2007. It's only fitting that he steps up to NYC Fashion Week and goes "big time"!

While in New York we'll have a KC pow-wow as we meet up with my friend and fabulous journalist from the KC Star/Indulge Heather Renee, along with photographer Roy Inman.
It's going to be a fabulous trip and amazing week of gorgeous fashion.

Right now...most fun...all the invitations coming in the mail! These are no simple invites. These are intricate, beautiful and not inexpensive.

Kicking off the week of shows is Australian designer, Michael Angel, at 9am Friday the 5th. Michael Angel debuted at NY Fashion week last fall but has been no stranger to the runway in Australia. His Fall '08 collection, in a few words....colorful, strong, bold. I loved it!

Michael's blog shows a very small picture of his spring '09 collection. Such a stinker teasing us in that way!
I see some airy, light fabrics and beautiful, soft colors. EEK! I can hardly wait.

Fashion Week Buzz

I'm back from New York Fashion Week with loads of photos and video of the shows, the celebrities and the fab fashion forecast. It was such a treat to be among such fabulous fashion guru's and I can't wait to see all the Fall 08 fashions in the stores. Unfortunately that's a season away, but you can still enjoy the upcoming trends now.

Belts were definitely a common theme among the designers. The BCBGMAXAZRIA collection was all belted, not to mention beautifully feminine with it's soft flowing silk fabrics and muted jewel tone colors, plus lots of dresses and skirts. I love the bubble skirts with a peek-a-boo layer underneath of a brighter color. One outfit had a beige tone with a pink layer under. Very fun!
Many of the pieces featured layered ruffles. I know...it sounds crazy, but with such a soft fabric like silk, it laid well and looked fantastic!
It was a packed house as we all sat in anticipation of another successful show from the amazing Max. He definitely lived up to the expectations!

Stay tuned for more reviews this week. The fabulous Betsey Johnson had a heart pumping show and I'm working on some video of it to show you later this week!

Fashion Friday

Hello fashionista's. This is your KC Fashionista writing from NYC! Right now New York is wet, wet, wet. But not even a little rain can deter me from my goal of getting into some fab fashion shows.

The most amazing show this morning was opened by non other than Mrs. Laura Bush! I'd seen her on tv this morning promoting heart disease awareness for women. You've surely seen the little red dress logos.
I was thinking to myself as I waited for the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection, that it would be so cool if Laura Bush was there. Well...she was. And showing off the beautiful red dresses were loads of fabulous female stars.

The audience gasped and cheered as each woman strutted down the aisle. Allison Janney is one of my favorites from the hit series, The West Wing. She was amazingly elegant in a fitted red gown by Donna Karan.
Sara Rimirez, Dr. Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy, looked like a bombshell in her Angel Sanchez gown and my did she strut her stuff!
It was so amazing to see these women in a different light, having a fun time rocking the runway. It was absolutely something you'd expect of New York.
But I never expected Liza Minnelli to float down the runway and I most certainly did not ever dream I would see and hear her LIVE, singing New York, New York. What a treat!

I have so many great photos and videos already. Check the Fashion 411 blog daily to see what's going on in the big apple and the fashion world!