Phreshly Squeezed

With the end of the first season of Kell on Earth (which climaxed with the first episode, and left me bored two-three episodes after), Bravo sought a replacement for its off-season period. Bringing in the quirky designer from season four of Project Runway, Christian Siriano is seen on television again as “Having a Moment.” Following the life of the young designer, the show aims to depict the highs and lows in Siriano’s struggle to emerge as a top tier designer. The show kicks off with NYFW S/S 2010 in which the cameras follow Siriano as he prepares for a major show and the aftermath of dealing with the buyers. Quite frankly, the premise of the show doesn’t capture my attention. The characters, including Siriano himself, though, are what had me and compelled me to finish the episode. Aside from that, I think the “oh my god fashion week” phase is saturating television a tad too much.

If it were to become a weekly fixture on the television schedule, I’m not quite sure what I would make of it. There just doesn’t seem to be enough savory content to keep me as a viewer. So that one hour is best to be left at just a “moment.”

Image courtesy of 365 Days Without a TV

As fashionistas were flocking to Milan for the next fashion week after NYFW came to a close, many remained in the city, including Anna McCraney, winner of The Fashion Show on Bravo. Her inaugural collection, “Annabelle,” showcased February 20th at the same location as the Siki Im presentation days before. Models carefully walked down the stairs to carnival music and showed off designs comprised of nude sheers and silks. The color palette was predominantly red and black with hints of navy slipped into a well-tailored jumpsuit. Not much else can be said, except that the premiere collection was a good effort, which was proven by the applause that greeted McCraney.

Overlooking SoHo, 82 Mercer’s 2nd floor was filled with excited guests and previews of the hottest Japanese designers in anticipation of next week’s Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo. Featuring three preview designs each from aptform, CHAOLU lab, MIKIO SAKABE, Naoshi Sawayanagi, SHIDA TATSUYA, The Dress & Co. HIDEAKI SAKAGUCHI, tiny dinosaur, and YU, models stood on risers and spotlighted with strong lighting, while waiters meandered through the crowds serving hors d’oeuvres and wine.

When we often think of foreign designers, especially from Asia, there is a perception that the aesthetic is incredibly different. However, this preview seems to disprove such thoughts, as we can see similar taste in trends for this upcoming fall and winter. The bohemian look is ever present, but with more hints of warmer palettes than what we have seen so far from the tents. Furs were present plain and with patterns,as well as blazers and plays on what was once seen as purely office wear.

On the way out of the venue, guests were handed their coats from check-in and a canvas bag, which contained an invitation to the Japan-FPO Exhibition this weekend at La Venue featuring several of the designers seen at the presentation.

Tinydinosaur - adorable name for a company

The white dress with silver neck decoration was gorgeous

The overall concept of how the previews were set up

Shida Tatsuya; lovely preview

The Dress Co.

Live DJ makes all the difference

The crowd marvels at the presentation