Runway Rush- NYFW’12

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Nanette Lepore Nanette Lepore founded her namesake brand in New York City’s Garment Center in 1992. Known for her signature prints, bold colors and flawless fit, Nanette Lepore has become a premier name in contemporary American fashion.Nanette added vibrance into her Fall Winter offerings with rich contrasting jewel tones. It was youthful, bohemian... with a gypsy twist. The separates would bring new life to an otherwise typical dreary winter wardrobe.To learn more about Nanette Lepore and view her current collections go here http://www.nanettelepore.com/home

RTW Mens Fall Winter 2012 - Rochambeau Longtime friends and business partners Joshua Cooper and Laurence Chandler formed Rochambeau (which is French for the popular game rock-paper-scissors) in 2007, fulfilling a lifelong dream of stepping into the fashion industry to share their love of design and, in particular, their similar vision for men's fashion with the world. Emerging from a family background in the print industry, a sector closely related to the fashion industry, the guys cultivated relationships within the fashion industry taking plenty of notes along the way. The Rochambeau collection is inspired more by the attitude of the wearer than any specific reference. It’s about the juxtaposition of a man who cares deeply about clothes but once he is wearing something, he completely forgets about it as it fuses with his natural self. The clothes have the nonchalance of something owned forever and this is how the Rochambeau man carries himself. The collection combines high quality structural suiting with lightweight textural layers to create a look that is at once composed and effortless. The construction of the pieces utilizes architectural cuts as well as natural contour to convey our guy's thoughtful but intuitive approach to fashion. The palette is based in neutrals to convey the austerity of urban life.To learn more about Rochambeau and to view the most current collection go here http://www.rochambeau.us.com/

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Carlos Miele Inspired be the culture of Southern Brazil and in particular the women from Rio grande do Sul, Carlos Miele reinterprets the free lifestyle and natural elegance of these country women for a cosmopolitan audience.Based in Sao Paolo, the Spring 2002 show, in London, marked the start of his company going global. With his exuberant design and love for vivid colors, Carlos Miele has definitely become an American favorite. To learn more about Carlos Miele and to view the most current collection go here http://www.carlosmiele.com.br/

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Josie Natori Born Josephina Almeda Cruz, she credits her entrepreneurial nature to the matriarchal society she grew up in along with the support of her close-knit Filipino family.What began with creating lingerie on her living room floor truly has evolved into a lifestyle. “Natori is a total concept, a way of life,” says Natori. “I just happened to start at the back door with lingerie. Now as the company grows, we grow our sensibility too, taking our concept and making it a whole world. As we say here, Natori is ‘where life meets art’.”Josie Natori's 2012 Fall Winter ready-to-wear collection was inspired by Mongolia and the drama of that untamed land of the Nomads. Luxe fabrics include Italian jersey, cashmere, suede, lush velvet, lace, jacquard and sequin. In a rich palette of vanilla, champagne, gold, imperial red, purple, grey and black. To learn more about Josie Natori and to view all of her current collections, go here http://www.natori.com/CategoryDetail.aspx?ISC_Category=JN

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Reem Acra Reem Acra’s designs epitomize global glamour by offering women her innate fashion sense, European style and understanding of what looks and feels beautiful. Interlaced with her sense of luxury, her regal designs are developed with a modern aesthetic.Reem Acra’s creations particularly appeal to women who are looking for glamour and sophistication for the most significant moments. Technical acumen, tremendous creativity, and attention to detail are the overriding principles that Reem Acra combines when approaching her design.With an insatiable desire for luxurious fabrics, texture, rich color and anything made by hand, Reem Acra’s exquisite pieces exude her own innate sense of style and love of fashion. To read more about Reem Acra or view her current collection go here http://www.reemacra.com/#intro

RTW Mens Fall Winter 2012 - Public School New York PUBLIC SCHOOL, the high end men’s young designer collection fuses the attitude of NYC with European tailoring and the thoughtfulness of Japanese streetwear. Created by fashion industry vets Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, PUBLIC SCHOOL is the latest conspirator in the wave of young designers who unapologetically celebrate influences that span high and low fashion, art and culture. It’s also a direct reflection of the designers upbringing in NYC.The layered "nuvo-urban" looks were clean and very well styled in asphalt black, cinder grays and pops of blank white. Rugged leathers, tailored mohairs, honeycomb wools, breathable nep cottons, sleek satin and coated raw denims brings the self-aware street style to the stage.

RTW Mens Fall Winter 2012 - Simon Spurr The SIMON SPURR brand is a complete mens designer collection that exemplifies modern British elegance.The brands clean and timeless aesthetic cater to the modern man that values the power of subtle design and significance of craftsmanship. From fully canvased suiting to hand-finished leather jackets, every piece is impeccably tailored in either Italy or France to the highest standards. Simon Spurr was born in Kent, England in 1974. He studied in London and graduated from Middlesex University in 1996 with a B.A. in Men's Fashion Design.Simon Spurr's clean and confident design aesthetic is clearly informed by both his English upbringing as well as by his years spent working with Hedi Slimane, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.  His approach to design is firmly built upon a framework that emphasizes color, proportion and deliberate subtly.  His slim-fitting suits are modern in their cut, color and fabric.  Simultaneously, they are unarguably sophisticated with precision in tailoring that finds its roots in the heart of Savile Row.  Garments are individually designed and manufactured to the highest standards in Italy, France and the US using the finest Italian, English and Japanese fabrics. SIMON SPURR is available at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Confederacy and Luisa Via Roma. To see more from Simon Spurr , please visit: www.spurr.tv

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Ainsley Ainsley is about limited-edition pieces centered on modern design and sustainability, rather than a reflection on current trends, Ainsley is always seeing the new while retaining a respect for the past.The Fall Winter 2012 collection is steeped in spiritual hues of carnelian, lapis, howlite, tigers eye, and citrine. Fluid silhouettes of ethereal Southwest tribal prints. Radiant sunset emulated through whip-stitched wools and recycled tweeds of boucle. Levitating silks and blends of cashmere. Natural fibers fused with Lurex (metallic) tape yarns and lightweight mohairsTo view the most current collection from Ainsley go to http://www.ainsleyny.com/index.php

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Heidi Gardner Jewelry Heidi Gardner finds creativity and beauty in the bizarre. Her inspiration comes from a desire to express the private and hidden sides of our personality; the funny, bold, dangerous and sometimes even raw and grotesque. Heidi's debut collection, "Creature Couture," is inspired by both life and death. The idea that we all have an inner creature fighting to break free from the molds of society.I have to say, this was one of the most intriguing and memorable presentations I have so far. It was in layers. The first moment was an ongoing projection on a concrete wall of the creations styled on organs, such as a liver, heart and tongue. Then a surgical tray was presented with the fearless pieces for closer examination. The final layer was and elevator ride to room for an intimate tour of the "Chop Shop." A bloodied, visqueen covered, make-shift surgical room in a forgotten insane asylum. We stepped carefully through the maze of sticky blood spattered floor and masked models, that appeared to be cut open with unique pieces of Heidi's jewelry resting on various organs spilling out of them. While in the corner we gazed upon an "active" dissection... the mad doctor holding in his clamp the large pelvic cuff with orange sapphires. The theatrics and CSI like detail was so gruesome, yet unexpected and impressive. To see more or have a special "Creature Couture" crafted for yourself go to http://heidigardnernyc.com/

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Irene Neuwirth Jewelry Irene Neuwirth's fundamental inspiration is the ocean- its purity, power and color are all key elements at the origin of her work. Her fascination with intense colors and raw, unmanufactured gem cuts, have become signature trademarks of the line and make each piece a versatile work of art that can be worn in the most casual to elegant settings.The Irene Neuwirth client is a thoroughly modern woman who expresses her individual style through fresh and sophisticated jewelry choices that hold and enduring place in her wardrobe.To read the complete story of Irene Neuwirth go here http://www.ireneneuwirth.com/#/story

RTW Mens Fall Winter 2012 - Nautica Nautica took its name from the Latin word "Nauticus" for ship. Since one of mankind's first accomplishments in exploring the world was to take to the seas, a spinnaker logo was designed as a symbol of adventure, action and classicism. Nautica was founded in 1983 by David Chu. He designed a collection of men's outerwear that was visionary in its seamless working together of fashion with new technologies of fibers and fabrics.This particular collection was inspired by the iconic watermen of the American northeast coast: Sailmakers, Dockhands, Admirals and Coastal Prepsters.The color palette consisted of indigo, navy, deep green, red, orange,heather grey,tan, oatmeal and sail white. Down, marled wools, suede, denims, heavy twill and classic cotton layered in cold weather protecting combinations that Nautica is know for.

RTW Fall Winter 2012 - Concept Korea Concept Korea is comprised of fives designers to represent the Republic of Korea in the development of global fashion content and assist Korean designers in their attempts to break into overseas fashion markets for the Autumn Winter 2012 season.One of the collections I was quite taken with was from designer Do Ho, label "Doho." This collection was called "Antique'en." Antique + Queen. A combined rhythmical silhouettes and artistic design with details of handcrafted textures and variations of tone-on-tone suggest elegance of the queen. Do Ho is an avid collector of antique furniture and old-fashioned jars procured during her travels around the world. These are the seeds which her inspiration grew from.