BCBG Natori and More at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week’s Kickoff

The very first day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week started with a journey to Istanbul with Josie Natori, well known for her luxury East-meets-West sleepwear. ” Eastern intrigue and Western glamour interweave to tell a dramatic tale through tactile texture and luxe layering,” said Josie in the show notes.

The Turkish music was hypnotic as the models sauntered out with tall Fez hats made by milliner, Ellen Christine. The message was, “More is more” with models piled high with layers or wrapped in blankets with fringe. There was a dramatic dress described as ” coral mist,” which resembled a hairy animal, but turned out to be faux fur. Dominant colors were earth beiges with gray, taupe and sage mixed in with navy and ubiquitous black. The event was a dreamy respite from the current cold streets of NYC.

Today is technically the first day of NY Fashion week with BCBG by Max Azria the usual kickoff to the bigger shows. The Lincoln Center tent was brimming with fashionistas from the Voguettes to bloggers and retailers filling the seats of the black stadium room from top to bottom.

A Native-American-inspired white shift with lacing, grommets and a fringy hem, which danced as the model walked was gorgeous. The look was not overtly fierce, and had a soft side evident in the palette of off whites, soft grays and camels. The hair and make-up reinforced this point with gently applied make up and well as hair that was casually left in the turtlenecks of all the looks.

From warrior princess to “Into the woods’ at Tadashi Shoji. Mr Shoji’s served up a parade of dreamy fairy-tale dresses and gowns. The stunners? Raven-haired models wearing emerald tulle and violet numbers, wrapped in a garland of embroidered leaves. A black floor length cape with gold embroidery gave an air of black magic to the show to dramatic effect. Bottom line? Next season the Tadashi lady will be red carpet ready no matter what the occasion.

Fashion shows are not only at Lincoln Center, but all over the peripheries of the island of Manhattan. Show venues can be in areas not supported by NYC transit so its an all day challenge to attend shows and make them on time. To that end I chose to forgo the remaining fashion shows and see some fun accessories. The accessory maven, Fiona Kotur known for her evening minaudiers is going full on ’50s theme of pool halls, poker games and roulette themed bags. They are just waiting for some lucky lady to plunk it down on the dinner table at a gala dinner which will really get the conversation started.