Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Elise Overland

Elise Overland, a Norwegian born beauty, had aspirations to be a professional skier, Thankfully for us, she was snatched up to do some designs for some rock n'rollers like Steven Tyler. Her signature is leather pieces combined with a feminine touch.

Colors: black, olive, cream, white, electric blue, chartreuse

Materials: lace, leather, jersey, cotton

Loved Looks

Photos: WWD

It was a cult late 60's movie vibe at Elise Overland.  It was kitsch done right that would make any downtown girl want to rush to the nearest boutique carrying Elise's one piece v neck leather jumpsuit with boho white top. Her rock n' roll roots can't escape her. There were plenty of pieces that would be great for stylists to grab for their clients including a deep v leather dress and all lace black dress. For us non-rock stars, there were pieces for us as well, including minimalist silk dresses and a cropped tiered black leather jacket.

Unloved Looks

Photos: WWD

Chartrueuse is a very hard color to wear for many people. Still, those who can rock bright colors and not look like they have jaundice (that would not be me) have a beautiful lace dress and silk pieces to choose from.

Music

Superstar by Aeroplane played with a surprise appearance by acclaimed violinist Hahn Bin. Bin walked the runway with playing a solo while wearing Elise's electric blue top and black leather multi-tiered skirt. The show ended with The Race by Yello.

Photo: Courtesy of Elise Overland

People and Scene

Elise Overland's show was held off-site at Exit Art. The bench seats and enough space provided a view to see everything with out poking over other people's heads. Socialites and Kelly Osborne sat front row. Hahn Bin's live musical runway strut added drama to the already cool, unique collection inspired by the cult fashion movie "Blow Up" and old African colonial uniforms.

To Gift or Not to Gift

Those new wierd drinks that look like shampoo bottles (Neuro drinks) were on the first three rows of seats along with black and white striped giftbags that probably included swag from sponsors like Fekkai, Tweezerman, intraceuticals, PrintinNYC and Napolean Perdis.

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Today was the first day that I went inside the tents at Lincoln Center! Here is a list of  Fashion Funhouse Emporium's pros and cons when it comes to the new location of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.

Pro: Its far away from Times Square which cuts down on the passers by who decide to crash shows at the last minute.

Con: It's now far away from central Bryant Park location, making a longer trek to off-site shows like Mac & Milk's Fashion Shows and others. Im in Brooklyn. The L train to the F train was a quick hop skip and a rail away. With the C train its a longer haul, and especially heading back down to 15th Street at Milk.

Pro: Its spacious and well organized. The Fashion GPS system makes an easy, quick check in.

Con: If you write for Fashion Funhouse Emporium and are still working on your styling career, the standing line is where you end up on plenty of occasions. You still have to wait, and the haute hounds still bum rush to the head of the line. See definition below*

Pro: AOL Media Center has Blackberry, Droid and iPhone chargers readily available in multiples.

Con: Same port -a -potties with stupid push nozzle sinks. Those sinks anger me. How are you supposed to wash your hands and hold down the button at the same time?

Pro: More room for sponsors like Starbucks, Treseme, Fiji Water, Diet Muscle Milk, PopChips, DHL, Mercedes Benz, DHL, and more.

Con: Starbucks is only has those bottled Frappicino "coffee drinks" Not a real coffee in the whole damn tent. Don't they know some of us will be going from 9AM to 9PM?  Bring back Mc Cafe, at least they had much needed caffeinated dark roasted black coffee.

Pro: Has a small court yard inside that is decorated with lighted benches and Hampton-like outdoor furniture. I call it the smokers lounge.

Con: I kind of miss watching the random old men play boccie at Bryant Park while sitting outside in between shows. There are also no people walking around with cardboard signs damning all us fashion types to hell.

Pro: Larger space makes for a more private, less chaotic experience.

Con: Tents look empty now, creating less of an excitement. (Which is actually a "pro" if you are an agoraphobic) Also finding where to go for each show takes a bit more asking for directions.

Overall, the Lincoln Center location is a gorgeous display. Its a cultural center which makes a better connection to fashion as art, rather than fashion as spectator sports. Next season, once show goers are a bit more used to the process, it will be a welcome change.

Haute Hound (Hote Hownd) n. Person that manages to get invites to fashion shows and has no affiliation, no fashion credentials, and no reason to be at fashion week except to see and be seen.

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