Drawn Into Spring at New York's Fashion Week
Asbury Park Press
By Karyn Collins
September 5, 2007
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770905015

It's two days after Labor Day.

Everyone knows what that means back to school, back to work, cooler temperatures and autumn leaves just around the corner.

But in the fashion world, it's all about spring, at least for the next week. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, presented by 7th on Sixth, begins today in Manhattan with shows and open houses by more than 150 designers and companies. The event, which ends Sept. 12, is concentrated in tents specially erected at New York's Bryant Park, with other events happening around the city.

What does that mean for the average woman?

Lots of news about what's in and what's out for next spring, along with all sorts of juicy tidbits about the parade of celebrities and boldfaced names who will make a front row appearance. Of course, we'll bring you all the hot happenings in stories in the Jersey Life section as well as a special photo gallery on our Web site (www.app.com).

And we'll give you a behind-the-scenes view of Fashion Week in the Press fashion blog, Dishing on Fashion (http://dishingonfashion.blogspot.com/).

Designers we'll be covering for you include some of the biggest names on the scene such as Tracy Reese, who is celebrating her 10th anniversary collection this season; Michael Kors, Reem Acra, Carmen Marc Valvo, b. michael, Betsey Johnson, Pamella Roland, Baby Phat, Gottex swimwewar, and the Cynthia Steffe line, which will show its first collection by new creative director Waleed Khairzada.

Lesser knowns on the schedule include "Project Runway" alumni Malon Breton and Zulema; Nili Lotan, whose show is a result of his winning the online Mercury Style Award contest. Other lesser knowns being watched this season include Pegah Anvarian, Jeremy Laing, Lyn Devon and Erin Fetherston.

The celeb designer contingent will be represented this season by singer Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. line.

And the one-time-only special event of the season promises to be the "Snoopy In Fashion" show featuring designer re-interpretations of the characters from the "Peanuts" comic strip. The designer creations will be put on eBay and auctioned to raise money for Dress for Success, a non-profit organization which promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women. The charity provides women with professional attire, career development tools, and a support network.

The big question that everyone is asking is what will Spring 2008 look like?

Merrill Greene, creative director for the trend information service Stylesight (www.Stylesight.com), says she anticipates seeing a continuation of this fall's trend toward more structured, cleaner and sophisticated looks. In other words, don't expect to see a lot of this summer's shifts and sack dresses, or Bohemian chic looks.

"I think there's a desire to clean things up. I think there will be a certain lightness, but a focus on shape and the silhouette," Greene says. "I don't think you'll see as much on the surface such as prints and patterns either."

So much for an educated guess. Here and on the Web, are hints from some designers on what they're debuting during the coming week as part of their visions for Spring 2008.



PAMELLA ROLAND BY PAMELLA DEVOS:

"For Spring 2008, I found inspiration at the America's Cup in Valencia, Spain the sailboats racing across the harbor, while in the distance you saw the dramatic architecture of Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences everything touched by the vibrant sun-kissed colors of the Spanish Riviera."



CUSTO BARCELONA BY CUSTO DALMAU:

"This season, I was inspired by the complexity and individuality of the sparkling icicles in the final scene of the film 'The Ice Storm.' Just as the destruction of the ice storm in the film incited positive transformations, the thaw of the winter chill revealed a vibrant spring."



CYNTHIA STEFFE BY WALEED KHAIRZADA:

"Cynthia Steffe Spring 2008 is all about color and energy. I'm reworking signature shapes and exploring new proportions, using airy fabrics with volume and movement, and an abundance of bright color."