Editor's Pick: Midnight in Tadashi

My First Fashion Week: Part 1

Every season, in our role as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, we ask one novice MBFW-goer to record her adventures and, ahem, misadventures. This February, ideeli’s fearless Assistant Editor, Carmen Villafañe, is our My First Fashion Week correspondent. The 23-year old Miami native, who is usually orchestrating our sales editorials in the office, is experiencing the glam scene at Lincoln Center for the first time—and let’s just say she’s not the retiring type. Here’s the first update on her exploits!
It was the night before my first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and I had nothing to wear. I had emptied my whole closet, texted my sister in L.A. with 15 pictures of outfit options (see option 1 above), and hated everything I own. So I called in the reinforcements and conducted a city-wide closet raid on my gaggle of girlfriends, resulting in a bagful of fab loans like tribal necklaces, colorful scarves, bold-shouldered blazers, and silk shirtdresses. My ensemble crisis was averted, but my stomach was still in knots. Is this what the gliteratti feel like the night before big events?

After tossing and turning all night, I darted off to ideeli HQ on day 1 decked in an army green silk shirt, black leggings, and knee-high stiletto boots, topped off with a scarf covered in red roses. The hours flew, and before I knew it, I was riding the C train uptown with a 5 hour energy drink in one hand and my iPhone in another, guarding my invitations as if the homeless guy across from me was gunning for them. I was a solid 15 minutes late.

I sprinted to Lincoln Center, but had to stop cold in front of the storied compound. I was walking into the veritable Super Bowl of fashion. A photographer’s voice snapped me out of my daze with the words every fashion girl wants to hear. “Wait! Can I get your picture?” I played it cool. Sunnies off, strike a pose, smile, move on. I played it so cool, in fact, that I have no idea who he was, or who he was working for.

I walked right into the tents, greeted by bumping music, low purple lights, PR girls with headsets and glittering “Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week” emblazoned everywhere. No one asked for my ID, or credentials—it was easier than getting into some Manhattan nightclubs!
After getting my bearings and doing a lap, I somehow found my spot at Luca Luca (runway shot above!), but not without a mean case of the shakes. The scene was insane, paparazzi and attendees alike snapping photos of Tinsley Mortimer, Petra Nemcova, and all the other beautiful showgoers. They all seemed to know each other, too, so when my seatmate, London fashion journalist extraordinaire Iman Pasha, turned to me and introduced herself, I was happy as a clam to have a new friend. Then, the lights dimmed. Everything stopped. And just like that, magic.

Goddesses waltzed down the catwalk. Luca Luca’s creative director Raul Melgoza created a collection for F/W 2011 that was one part Katherine Hepburn, with high-waisted trousers in bold burgundy, one part mod chic with an orange fur topping a slim pink pantsuit. My favorite? A white chiffon pleated skirt with a sheer white blouse tied together with a skinny black patent belt. I can’t help it. I’m tan, I’m tall, I’m from Miami: all white everything is kind of my thing.
We made our way to Tadashi Shoji, which I was super excited to see since the pieces featured in our sale were so amazing. As the lights came up, I had a perfect view of the front row lineup, with Amanda Lutrell, Johnny Weir, Kat Deluna, and a bevy of models and socialites (pictured above). The gowns were surreal. I’ll dream about the one-shouldered barely pink number with lace and chiffon super-imposed in frothy layers for days. And just like that, the show was over.

I had gone to my shows, rubbed elbows with New York’s fashion elite, and was ready to go home and get some rest when someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a reporter with a microphone and a pretty intense-looking videographer. They were from On Style, a Korean street style channel, loved my look, and wanted to interview me! So I smiled, cocked my head to the side and made him laugh when I said I was “just keeping it real.” And then I looked down. A remnant of TP, from when I went to touch up my uber-trendy red-orange lipstick, was stuck to my heel. Fashion. Fail. No worries though, I stopped the camera guy, removed the offending piece of tissue, and kept on posing, man. It’s only my first fashion week once, after all.

ideeli at MBFW: Day 2

It was up and at ‘em in the morning with the Tadashi Shoji presentation and the BCBGMAXAZRIA runway show, which were both full of gorgeously wearable pieces in softly flattering hues. At BCBGMAXAZRIA (check out our sale going on now!), we caught our first glance of Anna Wintour in the frow (front row!), looking flawless sans glasses but with a large bodyguard standing by. Kelly Rowland and Ashlee Simpson Wentz were also representing for the powerhouse design team of Max and Lubov Azria. On the runway, a parade of whites, pinks, grays, and blacks in fluttery layers had us wanting to pack the whole collection up and wear it someplace like Capri.

At Tadashi Shoji (also on sale today), celebs like Dania Ramirez (above) and Aisha Tyler were as transfixed as the rest of us with the designer's red carpet-ready cocktail and evening gowns. Unabashedly feminine, the collection didn't want for ruffles, sashes, soft hues. There was a desert-like feel to the color palette, which was mostly sand-toned with pops of lavender, periwinkle, and rose here and there. If one of these frocks doesn't pop up as someone's Hollywood awards ceremony ensemble of choice, we'll be incredibly surprised.

In the afternoon, we strolled from the office over to the Nicole Miller show in Soho, where we were lucky enough to hang with Noel Duan, our busy My First Fashion Week correspondent. Between catching up with Noel, we spied Perrey Reeves (so good on Entourage) and Cassie, both pictured above, as well as hotelier Andre Balazs. Miller’s collection had a menswear vibe we were digging, along with more soft, fluttery layers, which is looking like a major trend for next season.

And last but certainly not least, Fashion’s Night Out! We had to split up to cover all the celebratory happenings, one team downtown, and one up. Downtown, we strolled the madness of the Mercer Street block party, stopping in at Vivienne Tam, Paige Premium Denim, and witnessing the circus of Halle Berry leaving the Rag & Bone event. Total mob scene throughout Soho in the best sense of the word, with someone jokingly yelling “Free iPhones” outside the Apple store on Prince Street almost causing a stampede.

Uptown, we caught the glorious windows at Bergdorf Goodman, which were alive with what can only be described as fashion and art installations: a cabaret performer belting out Emo lounge tunes; Ed Tricomi of the famous Warren-Tricomi salon styling a model's hair in what can only be described as half haircut, half performance; and two designers deftly creating a ball gown of melted candle wax right before your eyes. Inside, the scene was just as surreal, as everyone from Victoria Beckham to Mary J. Blige to Heidi Klum flitted about.

After that, it was on to Henri Bendel, where we tried on gorgeous Tre rings, and tested nail colors with Liz Pickett, one half of one of our favorite nail polish lines, Ginger and Liz. Pooped as we were by the end of it all, we went home wishing Fashion's Night Out could happen every day.

Stay with us as we bring you the best of Day 3 tomorrow!

MBFW Pick of the Day: Tadashi Shoji

As an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, we’re celebrating our headlong plunge into this fabulous event with what we do best: amazing sales. And while our fashion team is off getting a first glimpse at the new collections, we’re bringing you some of our all-time favorite designer pieces—like this electric purple cocktail dress by Tadashi—the same day his runway show debuts.

Dominated by geometric patterns and futuristic shapes, Tadashi’s designs are true masterpieces. Though less flamboyant than the stage costumes he started out making in the ‘70s—Bill Whitten, the man responsible for Michael Jackson’s silver glove and Elton John’s feather gorilla suite, was his mentor—Shoji’s sculptural designs are still never lacking for flair. This sexily-draped, off-the-shoulder dress in a purple hue that jumps off the fabric is giving our trusty LBD a run for its money. It’s bold, flattering, and deceptively stretchy. Instead of drowning in a sea of black at your next cocktail party, opt for this bright hue and prepare to be the most standout woman in the room—no one will ever guess you’re also the most comfortable. Get it here!