New York Fashion Week 2008 Goes Full Throttle

Though spring is just a month away and spring/summer collections are about to hit the stores, global fashionistas, buyers, and fashion editors are flocking to the infamous tents of Bryant Park to witness the Fall/Winter 2008-09 collection presentation at New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2008.

Mainly sponsored by Mercedes Benz, the fashion week showcases new designs from both established names in New York fashion industry such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Calvin Klein, and Badgley Mischka, younger generation designers namely Victoriya Hong, Naeem Khan, Zac Posen, plus participation from internationally-acclaimed labels of Lacoste from France, Temperley of London, Custo Barcelona, and Matthew Williamson's self-named label just to name a few.

The event, which lasts for eight days starting from last Friday, have so far showcased 14 new fall/winter ready-to-wear and accessories collection for 2008/09. Kickstarting the fashion week was menswear presentation by Nautica at The Salon.

Yellow, black, dark blue, and gray with occasional touches of red, light gray, white, and stripes dominates the smart yet sporty menswear collection of outer wears, pants, and tops sashayed by male models wit some were spotted holding futuristic monochrome metallic motorcycle helmets.

In the evening, buyers and fans of BCBG Max Azria flocked into the tent at 3.00 p.m. to preview the upcoming fall/winter 2008 collection.

As usual, Max Azria incorporates the brand's trademark girly appeal and cinched waists and self-belts on every pieces starting mixed with tailoring a la Katherine Hepburn style with elegant dancer dresses in jersey, mini dress with wide v-neck and ruffle detail on short sleeves, dazzling plunging neckline evening dress in shiny dark satin, and toga dress with above knee hems in earthy working tones.

At Katy Rodriguez, the mood is "the girls on Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music album cover" with inspirations comprises of birds, canyons, modern architectures, and machines.

Walking in scarlet leggings, models strut their stuff around Mark Seliger's studio, which is off the tents of Bryant Park.

The ready-to-wear show kicks off with all-black jacket with sculpted sharp shoulders and skirt ensemble, t-shirt dress with short sleeves and patent leather corset detailing, baby doll dress with criss-cross straps in shiny navy blue, all paired with a pair of scarlet heels.

Snow falls under the tent at Lacoste's presentation, making the stage perfect for skiing. For Fall 2008, Creative Director Christophe Lemaire gained his inspiration from the alpine resort of Megève.

Glamour and comfort is the keyword and consists of glamorous sporty separates in cream and dove, high-heeled hiking boots, short sherbet-striped dresses perfect for the apres-ski feasts and Day-Glo jackets.

Also present along with the rest of cover-up collections are collegiate v-neck sweaters paired with short catholic school uniform skirt and a pair of bright disco-styled leggings.

For Vera Wang's Lavender Label, which is slated to make its grand debut at Aseana KLCC by the first quarter of the year, Fifties and Sixties influences ruled the fall/winter collection.

Presented at Bobo, a townhouse restaurant at the West Village, also off the Bryant Park tents, the show began with cable knit cardigans worn over brocade blouse and narrow three-quarter skirt, classy tweed skirt suit with fur shawl, long silk dresses with net panels and pailette-drenched and splendid gathered-waist gown adorned with pearls and berets.

The Fall/Winter 2008 ready-to-wear and accessories collection will be available at selected retailers and standalone stores of the respective labels by end of August or September 2008.

*Images by Marcio Madeira for style.com and Yahoo! News.

Nautica - No.231 A, Level 2, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur; G027, Ground Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 58000 Kuala Lumpur; G330, Ground Floor, 1-Utama Shopping Center Phase II, 1, Lebuh Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya.

BCBG Max Azria - Lot 3.42, Level 3, Pavilion KL, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur; Shop 132A, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50088, Kuala Lumpur; Shop G215, Ground Floor, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur; Shop G318, 1-Utama Shopping Center, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya.

Katy Rodriguez at Maizen Maison - 112, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar Baru, 59000 Kuala Lumpur; Second Floor, Parkson Pavilion, Pavilion KL, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Lacoste - 1st Floor, Starhill Gallery, 183 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur; Men's Department, 1st Floor, Isetan KLCC, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur; Men's Department, 3rd Floor, Isetan Lot 10, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur; G353A, Ground Floor, High Street, 1-Utama Shopping Center Phase II, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama 47800, Kuala Lumpur.

Vera Wang Lavender Label at Aseana - Ground Floor, Melium Galleria, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang 50088 Kuala Lumpur.