Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Karen Walker

Karen Walker's street style and high end combination has a devoted following, especially overseas. Since 2002, this New Zealand designer has been cranking out unpretentious designs for the cool girls, who want to wear something a bit different, but without going all out avante garde.

Colors: green, yellow, orange, gray, light blue, nuetrals

Fabrics: cotton voile, crepe de chine, chiffon, cotton

Loved Looks

Photo: Style.com

Photo: Style.com

Photo: Style.com

Karen Walker's prints have to be looked at up close to be fully appreciated. I loved last season's weird deer/fly print. From far away, one wouldn't notice. That's what makes her patterns especially cool since you don't expect it. Bright colors paired with neutrals gives this collection a down played but fun aesthetic. I would wear each one of these looks for as an anytime outfit. Where Karen Walker's strengths may go unnoticed is her accessories. Have you seen the sunglasses? When I was doing market work for a stylist, I made sure to email the showroom and say "Make sure you show her the Karen Walker sunglasses!" Sure enough, the stylist came back with a handful for a shoot. Her collaboration with Pointer on the loafer shoes is classic, yet with that twist of cool that she does best.

Unloved Looks

Photo: Style.com

While mixing prints has been all the rage since last spring, if not done properly, the look tends to look as if the model escaped from the mad house and accidentally strolled onto the runway in a confused stupor. Individually, pieces were great, though I really think we should all get over t-shirts carrying messages, especially when mixed with busy printed sweats.

Music

N/A

People and Scene

Exit Art is a great venue for off-site shows. If it wasn't in West-Bumblef*ck, it would be the best show venue to see collections.  Set up with benches and viewing for all, Karen Walker was not stingy with the gift bags. If you managed to wrangle a seat, you got one. Her eccentricly cool followers attended as well as editors, bloggers and a few social scene girls.

Photo: Zimbio

Naeem Kahn

Naeem Kahn, was born in Mumbai and launched his own company in 2003. Kahn gained some pretty impressive press during the first official State Dinner, when First Lady Michelle Obama wore one of his stunning gold gowns. But, don't expect Naeem Kahn to stick to glamorous black tie event attire. His talents lie in intricately detailed cocktail dresses and separates as well.

Colors: yellow, light blue, white, black, coral, beige, green, pewter, lavender.

Materials: Sequin, crepe, satin, chiffon, organza, linen, ostrich feathers.

Loved Looks

Photo: WWD/ George Chinsee

Photo: WWD/ George Chinsee

Photo: WWD/ George Chinsee

It's hard to pick just three looks out of a show from such a talented designer. As if I have to repeat it, we've seen plenty of the minimalist trend for Spring 2011. Naeem Kahn didn't follow on that band wagon. With plenty of first lady appropriate garments, and looks for just about any woman who wants to add glamor but not look like a silly fairy tale princess. The lily bodice on the gown above is such an original, out of the box piece that is perfect for red carpet. His silk shirt and long embellished skirt combination is chic, sophisticated and can be mixed with other pieces. The jewelry in his show was designed by his wife, Rajana Kahn, who is coming up on her own with gowns, as featured on Kristen Wiig in Gotham Magazine's May issue.

Unloved Looks

Photo: WWD/ George Chinsee

Yellow and black is usually a color combination that doesn't do it for me. Kahn's first few looks included this pattern and color. It's not a particularly bad thing, but as I mentioned at the beginning of fashion week, Im not big on the color. Its a personal bias.

Music:

Donna D'Cruz handled the groovy vibe for this show.

People and Scene

Though Naeem Kahn is a well received and respected designer, the show didn't have a celebrity driven front row. Stylist Robert Verdi, complete with sunglasses on was spotted in attendance. Since Verdi knows how to get women in the right clothes, perhaps the celebs themselves weren't needed. He will have no problem using this collection for many red carpet moments.

Written by Amber Stolec, as reported by Jamar Graham for Fashion Funhouse Emporim. Jamar attended New York's Parsons School of Design. He's worked for leader in trend and industry analysis, WGSN and as a stylist assistant. Currently runs his own blog called Treated Material. He is also launching his own clothing line to be announced soon.

BCBG

As if BCBG needs an introduction, this donimnant contemporary brand can be found in its own stand alone stores and in specialty department stores world wide. What is interesting about  the BCBG collection is, though it aims for a younger demographic, the over 30 crowd can still manage to find timeless, quality pieces that don't seem as if they are dressing in their teen daughters wardrobe.

This season, minimalist trends rule the runway. BCBG was no exception and paraded out models in the Lincoln Center's packed tents, complete with its usual celebrity follower (Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Rowlan) front row and every editor (including the notorious A-N-N-A) blogger and buyer in town.

Though, I can't let BCBG's show escape some criticism. What the hell was that  Ronnettes' Cover of Be My Baby by DM Stith? Ouch my ears! It was as if Will Farrell was spoofing it. I'll take the original please. And thank you.

Billy Reid

Billy Reid was named GQ magazine's 2010 best new menswear designer in America. Its not without merit. To most of us Yankees, when hear Mr. Reid was born in the South, we don't associate it with high style. Though, we are mistaken when it comes to Billy Reid's rugged yet preppy menswear. Along with his GQ credentials, in 2001, he won the CFDA's award for best new men’s designer. With handmade Italian shoes, and coveted men's boots that look quite sexy tucked into boots, and button downs for every man, Billy Reid proves that style doesn't just exist in the New York bubble.

Colors: navy, khaki, red, brown, gray, ivory

Materials: jersey, linen, cotton, denim, chambray

Loved Looks

Photo: Bradley Dean

Photo: Bradley Dean

Photo: Bradley Dean

When it comes to dressing men, Billy Reid has a knack for outfitting guys with style but not too much pretension. Even if guys aren't into the look as a whole, piece by piece, the well constructed basic garments like the tonal plaid cotton dress shirt with heirloom tank. Suspenders on a guy are always kind of hot to me especially paired with a no fuss shirt and rolled chinos. At this presentation, Billy Reid also revealed two collaborations: one with K-Swiss sneakers and the other includes six piece bag collection called "Made in the USA" available exclusively Gilt MAN in November.

Unloved Looks

Photo: Bradley Dean

Is anyone else as tired of madras as I am? Actually, I never liked it. It looks clownish.  Nice jacket though.

Music

No songs listed.

People and Scene

I always prefer presentations over runway since they have more of an intimate atmosphere. With Reid's simple sophistcate style, the MAC & Milk Studios spaces suited his aesthetic welll. With wooden slats for the models to stand on in front of antique doors provided by some buds at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques (set design was based on the photographic work of Clarence John Laughlin.) people mingled and took photos and chatted with Magic Hat Beer in hand. Hip guys and gals attended along with model Selita Ebanks and Food Network's "Five Ingredient Fix" host Claire Robinson.

Tweet