By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
My reward for limiting my shopping was a little black dress
from Alice + Olivia’s Bryant Park shop, where this papier-mache chicken
was part of the decor. Before buying in New York, check the
store’s sales tax policy. Many stores do not charge the tax.
By not taking advantage of a discount fair day and not watching the
tax, I paid $100 more for the dress than I should have.

Well, back in Honolulu and time to take stock of the damage done. I was pretty grouchy after our mail was delivered and I discovered a slew of bills. Make note of that for your future travels. Try to leave mid-month, after all your basic bills have been paid. It doesn’t help that hotel Internet sites now seem to charge your card as soon as your reservation is made, rather than after you’ve completed your stay so there was no grace period on $3,000 in accommodation charges for 14 days (inexpensive by NY standards). On top of that, I’m heading to Las Vegas in October and the charges for my room at the Wynn have also already gone through.

I had done very little shopping in NY, mostly browsing … until the very last minute. I don’t know why. It’s that whole travel shopping pressure that seems to make people go on a spree once they realize their stay is winding down and it’s their last chance to pick up something before leaving town.

Nadine Kam photo
A shopper eyes the merchandise at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.
This particular vendor dealt in fur pieces, vintage clothing, handbags and jewelry.

Last weekend I went to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (West 39th and 9th Ave., from 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays) where I bought a hat and snakeskin purse. Now I wonder why I bought the hat. It doesn’t look good on me at all. I have to blame the heat. It was close to 90 degrees that day, making it quite painful to walk around. I was so hot that day that I skipped a second opportunity to go to a Levi’s party featuring Damien Hirst. I was sorry to pass that up when it was so close, eight blocks, from where I was staying.

The second Saturday at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market I saw more snake purses, including a blue snake clutch for about $47, but I’m fixated on the color purple. They have super quality discards in this city because shopping’s a habit and closets are small. The same clutch at Henri Bendel or Bergdorf Goodman might start, conservatively, at $800. There was another black snake disco purse that was cute, but I believe the chain had been swapped out for a much cheaper, lightweight chain that I didn’t like. Now that I think about it, I could have had that replaced it with a heavier shorter chain at home, so I’m regretting leaving that behind.

Nadine Kam photo
When I saw this line in West Village, I thought it was to
get into a Marc Jacobs sample sale. It turns out all these
people were waiting to buy cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery,
401 Bleecker at West 11th. I don’t eat cupcakes so didn’t stop,
even though this place is famous. Ditto for MJ, whose sale was further
down the street. A crowd was inside grabbing at ho-hum tote bags,
wallets and key chains.

From there, I headed to another much smaller flea market on 17th St. I had been hoping to find a pair of black booties on this trip, but I have Cinderella feet that don’t fit shoes so had pretty much given up looking. Taller boots are more forgiving because you can wear socks to fill out the space. My feet are size 3 but I found I could slip into some 5-1/2s this way and found not one, but two pairs of boots; one a camel color with a heel and one a reddish brown with a flat heel. This was not going to be good as far as packing was concerned, but I was going to worry about that later. I knew I could always wear one pair on the plane. I was worried when my suitcase wouldn’t close, but I sneaked one jacket into the bf’s suitcase, and wore two on the plane. This was fine because the weather had gotten down to 50 degrees by this time. The temperature was pleasant enough for us to have had an outdoor dinner at Nice/Matin while everyone else was sitting indoors. Some people were already in coats and scarves. I just had a light gray cropped wool jacket that I bought at the Barney’s outlet at Waikele a year ago.

Expanding my shopping search a little closer to my home base at West 73rd, I headed to Barney’s Co-op where I saw the new fall silver and gold dresses from Fighting Eel sharing floor space with the likes of Marc by Marc Jacobs. Alexander Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Nadine Kam photo
Couldn’t pass up these colorful totes at Loehmann’s.

Also close by was Loehmann’s, equivalent to Filene’s Basement. They carry overstock in some great designer lines, including Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani and Alberta Feretti — I’ve seen a lot of her stuff everywhere from Century 21 to Bloomingdale’s and have loved it all, but even discounted, her thousand-dollar pieces start at about $500, so it wasn’t meant to be.

Other lines at Loehmann’s included Theory, DKNY, Free People and Max Studio. I picked up a cute Robert Rodriguez party dress for $129. And just when I thought I was done with shopping, I had to pick up socks for my boots and wandered over to the handbag section, even though another purse is the last thing I need. For some reason I became mesmerized by the Castellari Milan pony hair totes in multi-colors, $59 to $79. I tried on every color and loved every one, from lime green to sakura pink. I really couldn’t make up my mind which color I liked best and ended up buying two, one a neon orange and the other purple. Maybe this was the purple purse I was looking for. I didn’t know whether I was going to be sorry for buying them or not, but I didn’t want to regret leaving these behind. This is the sort of impulsive thing that drives my rational half crazy. Practically, I know that all these little incidental purchases add up to a lot of money that might be better invested in one “It” bag at a later date, but I can’t deny that a bright orange bag does have a way of making me smile, and smiling can add years to one’s life I hear.

By Nadine Kam

Check out Julia, Lady Peel’s bracelets (1827).
The giant cuff or bangle bracelet is one of Fall 2007’s trends.

Time to hit the museums, this time the Frick Collection because I’d never been there. It’s housed in the former residence of Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). Like the Honolulu Academy of Arts, it’s laid out around a central garden court. So serene.

I think before I became a fashion fanatic I could always appreciate it in paintings. The collection is heavy on 17th century Dutch artists, 18th century British artists and pre-Revolution French artists and the works include many, many portraits. When looking at paintings I love studying the details of materials difficult to render and basic to any study of art, including the reflections of water, the delicacy of lace, the glint of metal and precious stones, and the light and shadow that form creases in fabric.

Vermeer’s “Mistress and Maid,” circa 1665-’70.

From there it’s a short leap to studying the fabric and fashion of centuries past. It’s amusing to see how the rich adorned themselves for these artist sittings. I love looking at the jewelry, the velvets and furs they deem to be their best. I don’t know if they ever had a saying that comes close to our notion of “dress to impress,” but that certainly was the aim as early as 500 years ago.

“Comtesse D’Haussonville” by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867).

Highlights of the question include Rembrandt’s 1658 self-portrait; the Fragonard Room of 10 works from “The Progress of Love” series commissioned in 1771 by Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV; and the Boucher Room’s humorous rococo canvases of children in adult occupations. So hilarious. The contemporary equivalent would be of poker playing dogs or William Wegman’s humanly dressed weimaraners.

Drink your chocolate at Vosges Haut-Chocolat on Madison Avenue. It’s $5.

After the museum, walked over to 1100 Madison Ave. in search of refreshment. Passed by many cafes, then outside Vosges Haut-Chocolat saw a sign that said “Sip cold chocolate” and something about “refreshing.” Sold! Tried the Red Fire dark chocolate that includes Mexican ancho and chipotle chilies and Ceylon cinnamon that’s melted then mixed with milk. It was only mildly spicy, but very refreshing indeed and a great afternoon pick-me-up. The Aztecs and Mayans knew what they were doing when they drank this stuff.

By Nadine Kam

Wanted: Jimi Hendrix silk-screened shirt.

Well, Fashion Week has ended, though events will continue through the week. But I promised the bf that once the shows end, the trip will be all about him. First order of biz was heading to SoHo and Nolita to find another of the Jimi Hendrix T-shirts he had bought there last spring. Unfortunately, there were none to be had. We kept seeing Che Guevara and Bob Marley shirts and the vendors kept trying to tell him they were just as nice, good, etc. Never mind that they’re different people who stand for different things. Traipsing around all day in a fruitless search is no fun, though, so by the end of the day I was coming around to their way of thinking. “You better switch to Bob Marley,” I told him. He wasn’t amused.

Alice Cooper is the current face for John Varvatos.

Along the way we also checked out the John Varvatos store. Beautiful men’s coats, jackets and rock ‘n’ roll influenced casual wear. Unfortunately, with winter styles starting to fill the stores, there’s not much suitable for Hawaii wear.

Anyway, if you happen to know where we can get this red Hendrix shirt, lemme know!

By Nadine Kam

It was raining outside, but inside Gotham Hall it was all blue skies for the
staging of Heatherette’s Spring/Summer 2008 fashion show.

Had an awesome lunch at The Modern today, but I’ll serve up details later. Hard to think about food and fashion at the same time, especially after putting my hand on my hip one day while waiting around back stage at the Temperley London show and finding my usual roll of fat gone from all the walking I’ve been doing. Makes me want to stop eating and keep walking.

With about an hour to kill before making it over to the Heatherette show in Gotham Hall, I stopped by the New York Public Library where there was a memorial service for Brooke Astor taking place in the Celeste Bartos Forum. I hung around the entrance for a short time, long enough to see Barbara Walters walk in.

But I wanted to see the library, so headed upstairs where I got onto a computer and started doing a genealogical search for members of my family, then started looking up subjects like the Chinatown fire and bubonic plague in Hawaii. I got so wrapped up in the stories that when I looked up at the clock it was 5:30 p.m. and I was supposed to be at the Heatherette show at 5. I was a little freaked out by having to make it seven blocks from the library to 36th St. and Sixth Ave.

Spotted in the crowd: Some people will wear (or not wear) anything.

When I got there it was a crazy scene with people trying to get in the front and a line stretching a block and a half. I had the bf in tow and he said, “You expect me to get into that?” I was a little worried myself. It’s not easy getting into places and security is hardened and unwilling to hear your story, because there are so many people who will lie or play up any angle to try to get in.

Luckily I did have permission to go back stage and there were fewer people waiting to get in at the back entrance. Later, I heard Heatherette’s show was the worst to get into because there’s always massive confusion at the door. I was lucky to breeze in, although with the show about to start, I could no longer go backstage.

People were already in my seat, but here, a “snooze you lose” mentality prevails. Someone sits in your seat, you sit in whatever seat you can find, and if by chance the rightful owner shows up, too bad he/she was late. The auditorium was completely packed so it was obvious none of the people in line were going to get in.

Models return for the finale.

The show opened with Lil’ Mama performing her song “Lip Gloss,” before models hit the stage, their hair done up in a poodle or topiary sort of way, wearing virginal white lace dresses. There was a lot of Americana on the runway as well. Perhaps in acknowledging the anniversary of 9/11, the show was themed “Star Spangled Smiles,” with plenty of red, white and blue fabric. And it’s not a Heatherette show without the costumey aspect of mini skirts formed with layers of netting.

Tyson Beckford is interviewed after the show.

As always, transsexual icon Amanda Lepore took the stage in all her pneumatic glory before designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains took their bows. Celebs in the crowd: Sean Combs (or whatever name he’s going by) and model Tyson Beckford.

Heatherette co-designer Traver Rains walks the runway
during the finale of the fashion show on 9/11. He’s followed
by Amanda Lepore while Richie Rich waves to photographers.

By Nadine Kam

Photos by Nadine Kam
Not so nuts? He turned down an acorn for a hunk o’ bread.

You know you’re a tourist when you start taking pictures of squirrels. This guy is the first squirrel I spotted since moving from Chelsea to the Upper West Side into Tempo, a WooGo Apartment building. Pretty nice for about $239 a night, with a little kitchenette, small fridge, oven, microwave, living room, bedroom and bathroom with full tub.

It’s about two blocks from Central Park so decided to take a walk before heading back to the tents for the Nicholai by Nicky Hilton show. So I threw this guy a little acorn and he rejected it in favor of this big ol’ hunk of bread. I never realized what big hands they have.

The proud parents, Cathy and Rick Hilton.

I thought it might be a good place to spot celebs but figured they were at the MTV VMA Awards in Vegas, where there were many more ops for publicity, music being far more populist than fashion. I did get to see her parents, as well as Russell Simmons and also seated in the front row were Traver Rains and Richie Rich of Heatherette, whose show will take place 5 p.m. Tuesday. Her famous sis Paris didn’t show up, but that would have caused a circus and that bride rule applies, you don’t outshine someone on their wedding day.

Heatherette’s Richie Rich and Traver Rains had a view from the front row.

Applying silver liner backstage at the Nicholai by Nicky Hilton show.

I went backstage to watch the MAC makeup artists applying silver eye lining, inspired by the sparkle in some of Nicky’s designs. Back stage, it was a media circus that left little breathing room, so without looking at the clothes or trying to get a glimpse of Nicky, I just left. Unfortunately, staying there would have provided the best photo ops, but you can’t help but feeling like you’re in people’s way as they try to work.

Nicky’s show turned out to be a mixed bag, as if some garments were inspired by her mom, some by her sister. I could definitely see Paris wearing some of her dresses, but some seemed geared toward middle America. What I liked best were some slick black and green square cut jackets paired with hot pants. I think she’s still so young she’s trying to please many and needs time to develop her own vision. I can’t sense she has one by the way she dresses, sort of mall-ish. In spite of the Hiltons’ money, she and Paris are not like the Olsen twins.

A second after Nicky took her bow and I snapped this photo,
the entire crowd was on its feet.

At the end of the show she took her bows, and for the first time this week I saw a standing ovation, or maybe it was just everyone rising at once to snap a picture of the more private of the Hilton girls.

By Nadine Kam

Yohji Yamamoto made it rain during his Saturday afternoon
show for Adidas Y-3. Guests were led to the door by staffers
carrying umbrellas.

There was a lot of buzz surrounding Yohji Yamamoto’s Adidas Y-3 fashion show underneath the High Line at 21st Street, an abandoned elevated rail line being repurposed as a public park, with the first segment set to open in 2008.

Yamamoto always promises a spectacle, and this time created rain with hoses that poured onto the street, while under the rail guests sat on aluminum bleachers surrounding the street runway, slick and puddly after also being hosed down. Guests who entered on the wrong side of the street were led to the line to get in by staffers carrying umbrellas.

So, it’s a hot day, the venue is outdoors, the line encompasses sportswear. How would you dress? I wore a Theory black tank top, Diesel skirt and trusty old rubber slippers. One Asian girl got it all wrong, dressing as if she was headed to a cocktail party in a pouffy dress, chandelier earrings, Chanel purse and mink-trimmed stilettos. I’m sure she really loved stepping into water puddles.

Stephen Gan arrives and was photographed upon the
arrival of his Visionaire co-editor Cecilia Dean.

Spotted Visionaire’s Stephen Gan in a white T-shirt and jeans and realized I had not spotted his cohort Cecilia Dean all week. She turned up 10 minutes later in a simple leopard-spotted shift and flats, definitely shorter in person than she appears in photographs. Celebs in the house included LL Cool J, who’s a really big guy, Samuel L. Jackson and Mena Suvari, who wore a white tank top and jeans. Her hair was buzz cut, no doubt for a movie role. She also had that Hollywood glowing skin that comes from pampering and no worries while handlers are paid to do your worrying for you. In this case, the stars hung out in trailers parked in back of the venue where they could rest and sip champagne, entering just 5 minutes before show time.

A model in her own dress walks through the
puddle-covered venue during rehearsals before the show.

They weren’t adequately spaced though. While all cameras followed LL Cool J, Jackson entered with zero fanfare. It’s funny how he seems like such a larger-than-life character on film; he looks like an unassuming man on the street without the camera’s glare.

A model, in red, crosses the wet asphalt while
guests sat on aluminum bleachers.

The show started with the sound of thunder, and when the hoses came on, those who did not see the rehearsal thought it had really started to rain. Clothes shown were fluid pieces, meant for active lifestyles but minimalist and chic enough for the street. The designer, who observed rehearsals with the anxiety and pride of a parent, seemed pleased, smiling serenely.

By Nadine Kam

All photos by Nadine Kam c 2007
Robert Verdi interviews designer Alice Temperley.

From the spectator’s view, all is calm and glossy once the models hit the runways in the tents. For a look from the other side, I got to go back stage at Temperley London Saturday afternoon, where Aveda was handling hair duty and MAC was responsible for models’ faces.

Aveda head stylist Alain Pichon works on Margaryta’s hair.

As far as faces for spring, it’s shaping up to be quite pale, with soft color all around. For Temperley, MAC’s head artist Charlotte Tilbury used all-over gloss on eyelids and cheeks, with saturated matte color on the lips, orange on tanned skin and a pinker hue for pale skin. Lips popped from a distance. For real wear, she suggested blotting the color for a subtler stained look. But that’s getting ahead of time. I just know that returning to Hawaii will be like going through a time tunnel back to fall thoughts! I can see what a killer it is for fashion people to keep up here. When they see what’s new, they want it NOW. Meanwhile, I’m seeing all of fall’s cocoon dresses on the street and getting kind of burnt on the look. Makes me want to pass on the season.

Dressing the modern flapper at Temperley London.

Bright orange matte lips and glossy face effects from MAC.

For Aveda and MAC, creating looks to go with the clothing takes place only a couple of days before the show when they get to see the clothes and talk about the inspiration behind them. In this case, the 1920s and ’30s as the birth of fun in fashion. I have to give them credit for keeping all the shows straight. Tilbury said she’s creating the makeup for 10 New York shows, 4 or 5 in London, 14 in Milan and 10 to 12 in Paris. I can’t imagine how stressful that must be. I’ve just been going to shows 4 days and I’m exhausted!

The quick-rising London designer Alice Temperley presented her first New York show last year, and will likely be as big stateside as she is in her home country, where she’s known for dressing party girls. Her soft knit dresses were adorable and topped by sleek retro cloche hats. Ensembles were completed with Oxford boots and lace-up granny boots in metallic snake and leather.

All things considered, down to the Cosabella nude thong.

While there, I also got a chance to talk to the catwalk’s “It” girl Agyness Deyn, who channels a sort of Edie Sedgwick-meets-”Who’s That Girl”-era Madonna. I can see why she stands out with her dark brows and shock of bleached hair. Most of the other models are pale-eyed, baby-faced Eastern European girls and with all their makeup on, tend to look alike. The last thing designers want is to create superstars that require super salaries, but some girls, like Agnyess, just have star quality.

Nadine Kam photo c 2007
It girl Agyness Deyn came in wearing a cute turban-style
vintage hat. Her dress chart is below.

I asked her how many shows she was doing, and she said she didn’t know. “I get a list the day before. It makes it easier. You don’t have to organize everything in your head.”

No blemishes can show.

By Nadine Kam

Enjoyed last night’s Damien Rice concert. I was thinking it would be an intimate little concert for 500 or so in Madison Square Garden’s side venue, WaMu Theatre. I’d never been there. Of course NY small means 5,500 people! I had to see him here because maybe 100 people in Hawaii know who he is and would go to see him, hardly enough to bring him all the way from Ireland.

It’s kind of a bummer to go from imagining 500 people and an intimate setting and see 10 times that many, but it was actually intimate enough for all to hear one man shout, “I love you!” to Damien. And intimate enough for the crowd to shush people making too much noise while Damien sang, his vocals too beautiful to be interupted by a few rubes. It worked. Considering the size of the venue, the sound was excellent, everything you’d want out of an acoustic set.

He had a full band and spoke in thoughtful, if fitful spurts, causing one woman behind me to urge, “Spit it out!” as he stammered his way through his thoughts about unrequited crushes, integrity of past eras, and father-son relationships. Toward the end of his set, he even did a little improv song-writing, asking the audience for chords, a mood, a color and a name. Well, the resulting song wasn’t very happy. It was a Damien Rice tune. He was apologetic, saying he intended it to be the happy song the audience wanted. Well, what can you expect when you get a B chord plus an already melancholy A minor; they don’t exactly go together.

I don’t go to many concerts these days because I find most music to be redundant or idiotic. I go to concerts to see something new or original, or determine whether a phenomenon is packaged or the real deal. Damien Rice is the real deal.

The Daily News had this to say about him:

“Some singers seem to bring their voices from a place deeper than the throat and the lungs. They seem to be singing from the unconscious, a place primordial and pure.
Damien Rice has that mystic quality. … Only a handful of singers can get to such a place. Interestingly, other than Ray LaMontagne, all of them hail from the U.K. or Ireland, including Van Morrison, David Gray and Nick Drake.”

By Nadine Kam

Ivanka Trump, left, in the front row at the Ports 1961
Spring/Summer 2008 show at Bryant Park Sept. 7.

Made an early stop this morning at the Ports 1961 Spring/Summer 2008 fashion show in the Bryant Park Salon, a smaller offshoot to the right of the “Tent,” though both venues are in the same tent. There always seems to be a standing room only crowd about the same size as the seated crowd.

Sitting in the front row was Ivanka Trump, daughter of The Donald and Ivana, dressed in a simple cream sheath with a black belt. Her straight blonde hair hadn’t been “done.” I mean, it was very natural and fringy at the ends. Nothing wrong with that except that here, everyone’s hair is perfect. Even if it looks messy, you can bet that it’s been styled that way. Ivanka must be seriously busy. Her hair looked line mine on a normal day, brushed through, no gel, no mousse, no wax, no spray, no nothing. OK, maybe sometimes I use Jonathan’s Dirt for a little texture. It’s pretty good because it’s not sticky or gunky and it smells good. In between shows on Wednesday, I actually went to the nearby Jean Louis David salon to get my hair cut because it was pretty raggy compared to the fashionistas. Away went the bangs! I told one stylist I only get my hair cut once or twice a year. He was like, “Oh, come on, everyone has time to cut their hair.” Honestly, no I don’t, but I did have some time for this little fashion emergency.

I think Ivanka’s pretty cool because she’s not a spoiled brat as you might expect her to be, considering who her parents are. She was studiously eyeing the garments and taking notes. Hmmm, she does have her own jewelry line with a boutique on Madison Avenue, so it’s not much of stretch for her to be considering a clothing line.

The photo gallery in the tents is set up on risers, much like
a Japanese Girl’s Day doll display. Each videographer
is allotted a small space, below, measuring about 24-by-24 inches.
Photographers get body space.

Ports 1961 creative director Tia Cibani is an up-and-comer who brings a global village perspective to her work. Just this week one of the many fashion magazines I’ve been reading that black models are disappearing from the runways, but apparently, they were all at this show. Almost all the models were black. A couple were Asian. Garments were inspired by the dress of Eastern African women, but the aesthetic was thoroughly modern, merging comfort and modern luxury. Quite a feat. She sent out beautiful tunics, dresses and separates that would be perfect for Hawaii, runway smart, but realway practical. Quite a feat.

Well, gotta run. Off to a Damien Rice concert at Madison Square Garden and Prada party with the Hours and Damien Hirst.

By Nadine Kam

In the front row at Miss Sixty, Maggie Gyllenhaal,
Hilary Swank and Demi Moore.

Hit the tent at Bryant Park today for a 10 a.m. Miss Sixty show. It ended up as a full day of standing in lines, which anyone who knows me know I hate. There’s standing in line to get your seat assignment, then standing in another line to actually go into the Tent or the Salon where the show is being held, while they make sure everyone from the previous show has exited another door.

If you have a seat assignment, it doesn’t pay to show up early. Ivana Trump has this down to a science. The Fashion Week veteran was among the last to arrive at the Carlos Miele show, and the first to leave. She breezed in and out so quickly, no paparazzi in the main tent documented her arrival and departure.

Within the show tent it was another story at Miss Sixty, when the stars arrived in ample time to be photographed. Sitting side by side in the front row, though arriving separately, were Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hilary Swank and Demi Moore, all casually dressed but radiant (one designer complained in the WWD Fashion Week supplement that the stars should try harder to dress for the occasion, but the risk would be alienating one designer by wearing another designer’s work). Any money they spend on upkeep is definitely worth it. Overhead lights were not flattering on any faces in the room, leaving pretty much 99 percent of the crowd looking haggard, but the stars showed no trace of wear, stress or sleeplessness.

Oh, my bad. Clive Owen was sitting next to Demi, but I didn’t get a good photo of him because his head was turned away from her every time. I also heard Mischa Barton was in the house, but I didn’t see her.

“She’s so pretty,” women behind me cooed when they spied Gyllenhaal.

You can spot the stars by following the cameras. Every time one shows up, the swarm moves in unison. Heaven forbid you should be a B-lister when an A-lister shows up. Perry Farrell also showed up with his wife, but as a musician, he wasn’t recognized by the lensmen focused on faces they know from the big screen. When the lights went out before the show started, they came back on brighter than before, and Demi was prepared, having donned a movie-star size pair of shades.

I realized I had nothing to wear so I wore the DKNY and silver Malandrino skirt I bought a few days ago at Woodbury. That worked out as silver appeared in abundance at the Miss Sixty show, inspired by Andy Warhol’s 1966 film, “The Chelsea Girls.”

Seeing silver at Miss Sixty.

Next stop was at the Cynthia Steffe show in the Salon, where the house was packed but I didn’t spot any stars. As a more commercially oriented retail line, it’s probably too sedate to draw them out. As designers clean up for Spring/Summer 2008, so has Steffe. Usually known for embroidered touches, bows, whimsical buttons and other details, her current collection appears more restrained and more ladylike than girly. Blousons and dropped waist skirts give women back some shape currenty lost in cocoons.

After the shows, I exited the tent to decompress before unloading another 5 pounds of magazines at home. Sitting in Bryant Park to change back to rubbah slippahs, I was handed a flyer by a PETA “cop” there to protest use of animal skins as fashion. Rubbah slippahs are approved apparel. Earlier inside the tent, I saw a woman change out of her black velvet wedges and into white rubber slippers, while another with taupe suede pumps with gold stiletto heels changed into gold ballerina flats. “I do that, too. It’s a killer!” another woman told her.

Sergio Davila took over an upstairs gallery
at the Chelsea Art Museum for his menswear show.

In the evening, I headed to the Chelsea Art Museum for a change of pace with Sergio Davilo’s men’s show. “California Dreaming” was the theme, with inspiration taken from surf chic. Button-up shirts and jackets were often paired with casual check and striped shorts. I couldn’t read the expressions of the men; the women were looking at the male models.

Mostly men in the crowd at Sergio Davila’s show.