Recap: New York Fashion Week

As much as I’m a sucker for pretty dresses and heels, I don’t consider myself a fashion junkie. Why bother paying attention to the real collections when your best friend-slash-stylist will select and edit your entire spring wardrobe for you? (Thanks, Cori Sue!)

That being said, I do consider fashion to be art. And art I love. To Cori Sue’s extreme jealousy, I had the good fortune of getting my hands on a few coveted Fashion Week invitations: Milly by Michelle Smith and Proenza Schouler, which were like night and day. Or rather, day and night.

By Day: Milly by Michelle Smith

Pony tails and big sunglasses paraded down the runway to funky French music. This is my work style, I thought: It’s bright, colorful, geometric patterns on beautifully constructed dresses, coats, button-down blouses and cigarette pants.

The clothes, in deep blues, lime greens, and oranges, all had a vintage vibe, but with a shot of energy. The dresses had deep cut-outs in the back, which I loved. Oh, and I am pleased to report, my favorite rain hat will finally be in fashion this spring. Hurrah.

A few of my favorites from the collection:

This show was in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tent at Lincoln Center, which offered perhaps the best people-watching experience I’ve ever had in my life. Good God, the ridiculous people in that tent. I cannot even put it into words.

By Night: Proenza Schouler

I never thought I’d be in the company of Pharrell, Rachael Zoe, or Alexa Chung. But there I was, in my ridiculous polka dot dress, in the front row of this fashion show, surrounded by beautiful celebrities and models.

It was held in the West Village, in a warehouse that had wall-to-wall brown shag carpeting. The models weaved around the rows of benches, between spotlights hanging from the ceiling, giving each guest a close look at the eel-skin dresses and skirts (yes, you read that right).

Is this supposed to be safari chic? Where are the tiki torches? Or is this grungy 1960s cocktail chic? Why am I the only person in this room wearing any color? And why do the clothes look like they were made from old furniture covers?

OK, I’ll stop. Because I do recognize that Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are fashion geniuses. And that this was one heck of a show. A few of my favorites from the collection:

Note to self: Don’t wear your work outfit to the hottest evening show during Fashion Week. Especially if it’s in a warehouse in the West Village. And especially if there’s a 5% chance Rachael Zoe will show up.

‘Till February …