Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Norman Ambrose

This is designer Norman Ambrose's debut onto the New York Fashion Week scene. With a background that includes the Academy of Art in San Francisco, and names like Bottega Veneta and Versace on his resume, he's bringing out honed technical skills and a discriminatory eye for details.

Colors: gold, silver, gray, black, taupe

Materials: fur, beading and shiny things

Loved Looks

Wow. For those who style red-carpet, these are some looks to add to your arsenal. Often, when a new designer tries to bead, sequin and feather, the result is a strange club dress from some New York whole-sale shop in the garment district. This is absolutely not true for Norman Ambrose's collection. Tastefully and impeccably done, his evening gowns and separates proved that before he launched on his own, he made sure he had his skills down. New designers, take note, this us how you debut. The gold leaf embellished dress and the turquoise jeweled top, with a splash of late 60's early 70's actress allure were flawless. Fist bump to the stylist and creative team on this show as well.

Unloved Looks

Photos: © Kevin Tachman

I only like fur on living animals. I'm not PETA crazy, but little balls of fur are off putting to me-unless they are barking or meowing. But ladies who love to taxidermy themselves in animal pelt coats will go ape-shit over these jackets. (Pun intended)

People, Scene, Music

Photos: © Kevin Tachman

The Lincoln Center box gives presentation designers a great way to squeeze in with all of the other shows going on. Though sometimes simple white background is best. Models stood on actual boxes, leaned on ladders in front of a colored paper backdrop. It looked very much like a school gymnasium area reserved for couples pics at the school dance. Gospel-soul singer Ms. Candi Staton's Victim played in the background. As far as the people, lots of bloggers. It seems we are the new eyes for spotting the up and coming. ATL and Wintour, you missed out.

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Vivienne Tam is one of the more established shows you'll see here. Her runway show was one of the first I ever attended. As an intern back in 2006, when swag bags made it past the first three rows, I was so excited to walk out of her show blown away by the beautifully feminine garments how (and with a red floral embroidered make-up bag that I still use 5 years later).

Tam's Eastern inspired clothing hasn't changed much since 1994, proving that she knows what works and sells for the woman she designs for. She started an Asian inspired craze in which other designers tried to imitate. Some of the pieces from her early collection were given a home in my hometown of Pittsburgh at the Andy Warhol museum, among others like FIT. What has changed is that she is now a lifestyle brand.

Tam has always been on the cutting edge of technology.  Long before she collaborated with HP on the clutch book, she designed phone cases for Motorola she's partnered with Stardolls in a virtual online clothing boutique for teens and has participated in designing the costumes for an animated film.

She's also established herself as a personality having been a judge on The Fashion Show and Project runway and is an author of the book "China Chic."

Colors: navy, black, shades of blue and a dash of red

Materials: wool, tweed, chiffon, silk, knits

Loved Looks

View the full collection on Style.com

Where some critics may feel she pulls out too many of the stops, I didn't mind so much. Its her thing. If you can do multiple back flips without falling, then why not? Though I suppose showing off can tire some. Her knits and simple crop pants were main stream ready, but have details that make them a bit more interesting than your average department store sweater. But then again, if you own your own stores around the world, then why not get crazy with the embellishments?

Unloved Looks

Some pieces went a bit too crazy to the point of confusion. Sometimes one less element is a good thing.

People, Scene, Music

The show was at one of the larger venues in the Lincoln Center tents. I wondered why it was so large, but then again, Vivienne Tam embraced bloggers long before designers thought it was cute to have Tavi and Bryanboy attend their shows. Yes, Bryanboy was there, along with a contestant from The Fashion Show, who was telling his story with teary eyes to the girl in the seat next to him. Model Petra Nemcova was there, surrounded by photographers. An older lady in a crocheted vest next to me asked if I knew who she was as if hosting some fashion show celeb spotting tour. I pretended I didn't speak English. Kidding. I told her. Angela Simmons daughter of Rev Run of Run DMC, Reshma Shetty, Eric West, Nigel Barker, Sisalee Lopez  and one of the chicks from one of the seasons from The Bachelor weren't the only unrecognizable yet recognizable people there. What was cool about this show was the big screen, which I've never seen in operation at these rock-arena style shows. It gave ample viewing to those of us in the back rows. My Shazam app picked up the groove on the song Ay Ay Ay by Duke Reid and Nora Dean.

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Karl-head Rating

What the hell does this mean? View Fashion Funhouse Emporium's Karl-head rating system!