| A Lesser Fashion Week Concludes at Bryant Park |
 Model Omayra shows off a Snoopy design dress at the Metlife Fashion show  Gwen Stefani's new line L.A.M.B. premieres at Fashion Week  A black/white graphic plaid chiffon gown with beading was display on the walkway at Pamella Roland show during fashion week In addition to various off-site locations, shows were held at only three Bryant Park venues: The Tent (the big one), Promenade (the one with two runways) and The Salon (the other one.) Gift bags for show attendees in the Bryant Park tents were usually reserved for the multi-millionaires in the first row, although all guests at many smaller venues were rewarded with "swag," such as at the Angel Devil (Bryant Park Grill) and Dead Birds and Lionhearts (Persona Studio) shows. Celebrity sightings (by me anyway) were few and far between, the most conspicuous one being the legendary Carmen Electra who could be found in the lobby most of the time hosting the nightly program Full Frontal Fashion for WNYC-TV. Also spotted were Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway (Angel Devil), music mogul Russell Simmons (at Baby Phat and Nicholai) and divorcee Ivana Trump (Baby Phat, Marc Bouwer). Celebrity designers showing in Bryant Park included singer Gwen Stefani (L.A.M.B.) and socialite Nikki Hilton (Nicholai). Among the shows I was privileged (permitted?) to see were Pamella Roland's elegant designs inspired by the America's Cup and the very sexy swimwear of Gottex (stiletto heels and bikinis never miss!). Then there was the fun and funky Met Life Snoopy in Fashion show, the wild and wicked Angel Devil, and the hot boys of 2xist and Nautica. I also got a look into the future of fashion as provided by the talented graduates of Academy of Art University, San Francisco. The hot boys of Nautica in 40 looks of blue and white opened New York's Spring 2008 Fashion Week with a 9 am show in The Tent on September 5th. Primarily creations of cotton, linen, silk and nylon, the looks included swimtrunks, terry robes, poplin windbreakers, boatneck sweaters, hooded shirts, vests, catamaran parkas, seersucker pants, sportcoats, blazers, a dinner jacket and did I mention the swimtrunks? The temperature remained high at the Angel Devil show in the intimate venue of the Bryant Park Grill, just a gift bag throw from the tents. Red was the dominant color and reflected the hot looks on the runway just a foot or two from this very grateful reporter. Male and female models wore corset-like tops and other provocative attire, often featuring sequins and sparkles and accessorized with huge shoulder bags, top hats and riding crops! Founded by Italian designer Riccardo Fusiello, this latest Angel Devil collection was co-designed with Carmine Di Sarno. In attendance were actress Anne Hathaway ("The Devil Wears Prada") and legendary stylist Patricia Field ("Sex and the City"). Roland's shows always end with a kiss and flowers from her debonair husband, followed by a walk to the end of the runway with her two teenaged daughters and pre-teen son. A predictable yet always sweet "all American" moment in a week often dominated by a "too hip" Eurocentric vibe. The Israeli firm Gottex was founded by the husband-and-wife team of Lea and Armin Gottlieb who first began designing swimwear in 1954. Now, over 50 years later, their company has expanded its business to include chic, beachwear accessories such as towels, bags, and silk scarves. Gottex is still best known for traditional colors, sexy cuts, and creative blends of textiles apparent in every suit carrying the label. I wasn't sure what to expect when I received my invitation to attend the Met Life Snoopy in Fashion show. Perhaps 40 variations of Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Charlie Brown costumes? Fortunately I couldn't have been more wrong. Some of Snoopy's biggest fans and the biggest names in fashion, including Isaac Mizrahi, Betsey Johnson, Heatherette, and Roland as well to name a few, teamed up with MetLife to present Snoopy's first-ever group designer fashion show. Each designer, inspired by their favorite Peanuts character, created a unique couture runway outfit. Of course the show wouldn't have been complete without Snoopy himself making an appearance to climax the show: as a bridegroom arm and arm with a model in an exquisite bridal gown walking off to a standing ovation! Following the Snoopy show, Peanuts fans and fashionistas alike had a chance to bid on the designers' unique runway creations in a special eBay auction benefiting the Met Life Dress for Success charity. As for the future of fashion, the talented graduates of Academy of Art University, San Francisco, provided their various individual visions. Established in 1929, Academy of Art University is the largest accredited art and design school in the United States, with over 10,000 students in San Francisco as well as nationally and worldwide through the online program. Over 1,300 fashion majors in the School of Fashion can choose from eight areas of specialization including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, textile design, knitwear design, fashion communications, fashion merchandising and visualmerchandising. Nine recent graduates from such diverse locales as South Korea, Indiana, Taiwan, California and Malaysia displayed their designs in The Tent which were inspired by fairy tales, family vacations, Russian Matryoshka dolls, basket and bamboo weaving, reused fabrics, Japanese paper folding, manga comics and a call for a return to nature. Outside of an ill-conceived bit featuring "personality," celeb-something Carmen Electra and a suspended hula hoop, the 2xist show at Metropolitan Pavillion was hot hot hot! In addition to a bevy of beautiful men in "tighty whities," the show featured two female aerialists performing a synchronized routine high above the runway. The 2xist after party at the club Aspen--with showgoers bussed to the location--was my favorite Fashion Week soiree, with great food and booze and an eclectic crowd of fashionistas young and old, thin and not so thin, dancing or drinking the evening away. Perhaps smaller is better. I actually enjoyed this "easier to get a handle on" Fashion Week more than most of the previous ones I've covered since the turn of the century. And I must admit I was thrilled to learn that Bryant Park will continue to be the site of New York Fashion Week through 2010. But here's the bad news: you have less than five months until NY Fashion Week Fall 2008 to work on getting a show invitation from that friend who has a connection in the fashion (or media) business. So good luck and hope to see you all in the Bryant Park tents in February! {mos_ri}
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