Thursday, February 18th

Leifsdottir
by Anna Cooperberg-Gonzalez
Leifsdottir’s Fall 2010 collection, aptly titled “The Catalonian Affair,” was a sexily fun presentation full of ruffles, velvets, tassels, and roses cheekily woven into buns. Models clicked castanets and pranced seductively in their Spanish-inspired attire heavy on lacy tights, brightly colored silk dresses, and intricately embroidered boleros. To get the look, pair black lace tights with vibrant separates, fix your hair into a low bun, and practice your flamenco.

Wednesday, February 17th

Nanette LePore
by Tiffany Chen
A vision of lush flowing velvet, LePore’s Fall Winter 2010 collection sent deep purple, and red velvet gowns and shirts, many with exposed backs for a sexy womanly feel, down the runway. The models’ lips were deep red and their hair flowed in soft dramatic curls. To balance the feminine draping, the designer paired olive military jackets with several looks—an easy look to duplicate with a knock-off military jacket from the Salvation Army.

Shanghai Tang
by Tiffany Chen
Opening up its boutique store on Madison Ave, Shanghai Tang celebrated the year of the metal tiger with a post-Chinese New Year evening of cocktails and fashion. Shanghai Tang welcomed its guests to shrimp dumplings while the affiliates introduced themselves and explained the new imperial bespoke mandarin collar tailoring. A champion of modernizing Chinese clothing (think colorful “qipao”), Shanghai Tang reinvents the traditional in order to encourage easier access for Chinese clothing in the United States.

Tuesday, February 16th

Nadler Collection
by Chamika Miles
The Nadler Collection’s showcase, Portable Treasuries, boasted traditional jewelry pieces from Egypt, Morocco, China, and India. As the title of the showcase suggests, these pieces were opulent workings of layers of silver, beads, coins, conch shells, and colored glass, some so large that they weighed a staggering 2 pounds. To get this look on campus, think tribal: the chunkier and more embellished the piece the better.

TIBI
by Jessica Jeong
The TIBI Fall Winter 2010 collection was ethereal, full of delicate details. Bright lights accentuated the fun outfits—jackets, skirts, and dresses were all made to sparkle. To get the look: don’t be afraid to let your hair go wild and put on something very shiny!

Dennis Basso
by Allison Malecha
Luxe glam defined Dennis Basso’s Fall Winter 2010 collection, featuring a moss green fur coat, a flounce-skirted cocktail dress encrusted in forest colored sequins, fox capelet with volume right up to the collar, and lacquer-shiny feathers and alligator skin accents. Since a mink coat is out of reach, both economically and ethically, for many students, don the Dennis basso attitude instead. Dressed in circle sunglasses and a little too much, don’t let anyone take the strut out of your step.

MaxAzria
by Allison Malecha
Sticking to a strict code of neutrality, save for one mauve dress, MaxAzria’s Fall Winter 2010 collection expressed the designer’s simpler side. In contrast to the layering central to most fall shows, MaxAzria showed body-skimming silk dresses, simply draped tops, and a few tailored black leather pants—all paired with sky-high leather wedge booties that gave multiple models grief. To get the look, stock up on soft nudes and greys, pieces with black leather accents, and asymmetrically cut dresses with subtle see-through paneling.

For Love and Lemons
Julian Mancias
Rock-n-roll rebels clearly influenced the young designers of For Love & Lemons. Girls may find it difficult to stay warm in the collections black and white barely-there minis, slit leggings accentuated with gold buckles, printed leotards, and thin tanks tops, but they will certainly evoke a modern edginess fit for the downtown scene. For a DIY look, pair black leggings, a loose white tank, and a faux fur vest with heavy black eye liner and black platform pumps.

Kardashians for Bebe
by Katie Kennedy
Kim Kardashian hosted the debut of her and her sister’s line Kardashians for BeBe at Stage 37. The collection featured nights out-on-the-town looks that seemed to be picked right off the streets of New York City—nearly every look featured a tailored blazer paired with sky-high black heels. Although most club-going students probably already have this look in their closets, they can snatch up new pieces when the Kardashian line is released later this month.

Sophie Theallet
by Mike Linshi
Sophie Theallet had a very good year in 2009 – the french-born, Brooklyn-based designer won the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award for emerging fashion designers and garnered international attention for Michelle Obama wearing her designs. Her Fall 2010 collection was inspired by the simple elegance of peasant girls in Theallet’s native France and featured windswept side ponytails, satin shirt-dresses, pleated skirts, and velvet detailing. To achieve the Sophie Theallet look, pair a billowing pleated dress with a luxurious fitted sweater or cardigan.

Monday, February 15th

Carlos Miele
by Helen Werbe
“Oohs” and “Ahhs” were the audience reactions to Carlos Miele’s womenswear collection show Monday morning. The Brazilian designer caters year after year to a feminine and sophisticated clientele, and the Fall Winter 2010 collection did not disappoint. It featured architecturally complex gowns and boleros, fine attention to details like rosettes, and flashes of bold colors and sparkle. Columbia ladies who wish to dress girly but avoid looking like teenagers should turn to Carlos Miele’s body hugging color block cocktail dresses for inspiration.

Perry Ellis
by Julian Mancias
Perry Ellis’ vision of timeless and classic wearable menswear was continued forth in the forty-two looks creative director John Crocco sent down the runway. From resin coated slim jeans and luxurious tuxedo pants in midnight blue to cashmere v-neck sweaters and velvet dinner jackets, Crocco crafted fall/winter pieces
that can easily go from day to night. At affordable prices, this urban collection is perfect for the Columbia student on a budget.

Korto Momolu
by Katie Kennedy
Korto Momolu, a former Project Runway finalist, debuted her eponymous Korto Momolu Fall 2010 Collection at the Union Square Ballroom. The collection featured an obvious African-influence from rich accent colors to bold accessories including elephant tusk handbag handles and chunky wooden necklaces. Students can attain the Momolu look with oversized sweaters over bright separates and with Momolu’s accessories, which hit department stores this month.

Alexa Chung for Madewell
by Tina Tsuchiyana
A much sought after “it-girl” from the moment she crossed the pond, British personality Alexa Chung presented her highly anticipated new collaboration with Madewell, J. Crew’s sister brand. The collection upheld Madewell’s classic Americana aesthetic while also reflecting Chung’s own style, including her love for shorts, done in a variety of fabrics including velvet. The collection featured many affordable basics for students for fall, but to really capture the quirky style of Alexa Chung invest in a pair of heeled clogs and wear with knee-high socks and shorts for fall.

Ecco Domani
by Camila Daniels
The Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation was established to support the careers
of young, promising designers by offering seven designers in four
different categories $25,00 grants to create a fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. This year’s winners were Joseph Altuzarra, Phillipe Rollano, David Trujillo, John Patrick, Prabal Gurung, Irini Arakas, Rose Menuez, and Siki Im. Tribal prints, embellished dresses, and ostrich feathers repeatedly made their way down the runway; these three key pieces can bring the sartorial flair of the talented designers to campus this fall.