The looks on the catwalk are translated into surprising combinations, which include a mix of fit and oversized lines to create drama on the runway.The touch of contradiction is demonstrated through the use of tromple l´oëil effects, thus painting and insinuating the feminine silhouette through strategic cuts symbolizing freshness and freedom.

This season’s key fabric is wool, crafted in different ways. Like graphic boiled wool or cut-off wool mimicking tectonic plaques on embroidered fabrics. The designer also presented perforated wools as a base for pieces revealing what is underneath, and wool cut in small geometric shapes that create ironic animal figures. Other important elements for this season are metallic colors and tricot pieces with high-quality materials. Color is a key player with shades of green, red, brown, ocher and gray dominate the color palette. Each color becomes a symbol on the catwalk, transmitting Custo’s energetic and sophisticated personality. Please see the full gallery below along with a list of who sat at Custo’s Fall 2012 show.

Once more, the room of international and domestic editors, photographers, VIP’s and fans was at standing-room only to witness the Catalonian designer’s risky proposals. The front-row at Lincoln Center was occupied by America’s Top Model judge Miss “J” Alexander, NYC socialite Tinsley Mortimer, actress Torrey Devitto, former Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, supermodel Almudena Fernandez, singer Zak Ambrose, and German television personality Loulou von Brochwitz

Custo Barcelona Fall 2012 runway images seen below were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.

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Custo Barcelona Fall 2012 runway images were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.

Betsey Johnson Fall 2012

Helios & Luna Fall 2012

Anne Bowen Fall 2012

bebeBlack Fall 2012

Custo Barcelona Fall 2012

Knee high stilettos with leather cut-outs, and hand applied crystals, deck the feet of Marchesa’s runway models. In the photo gallery below, fashion photographer Olivier Claisse captures every detail from the shimmering gold eye-liner, to the golden threads, that marked the debut of Marchesa’s Fall Collection. This is also, no doubt, a preview of what’s to be seen on some of the hottest, A-list celebrities in the upcoming year!

Photo Galleries Below.

Photo Credit Olivier Claisse

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Photo Credit Olivier Claisse

Photo Gallery: The Shoes

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Photo Credit Olivier Claisse

Photo Gallery Below.

Backstage at Marchesa Fall 2012 Photo Credit: Olivier Claisse

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Backstage at Marchesa Fall 2012 Photo Credit: Olivier Claisse

Mastroianni promised us a journey and she definitely delivered. It was mesmerizing, breath-taking and filled with oo’s and ahh’s. I was literally just jumping out of my seat with excitement as every beautiful piece floated down the runway. Her inspiration was that of ‘an ultimate fashionista and what she might wear in her favorite haunts around the world’. Now I too want to be adorned with these beautiful pieces on my life’s journey.

Everything started in New York City. As the first dress came down the runway I was in a New York state of mind. The black, short and sassy dress had feathers, jewels, silk tulle, and was hand-embroidered on silk organza with fabulous matching gloves. (See picture below) Mastroianni’s fashionista continues her journey, and stops in Paris. Elegant dresses then came down the runway. The color palette was divine at this point. It was copper, gold, bronze, pewter,  galore!!

Mastroianni’s fashionista then took us to Asia. The pieces were simple yet chic. There was black, and daring splashes of metallics and red in there. The showstopper, which was the last gown, was the hand embroidered white silver gown with a plunging front and back. This was just marvelous. Mastroianni’s collection showed youth, sophistication, and class. The detail in every piece was amazing. She made sure that every look got all of the attention that it demanded, with all of the sequins and leather faceted “jewels”. It was filled with breath-taking colors, feathers, and metallics. I am jetlagged, this was my best journey and I did not even have to leave my seat!

Inside the Lincoln Center for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2012.

The handsome and charismatic TV personality was invited to give individual consultations and his top beauty tips- and you can tell he knows what he’s talking about.  Close up, he has remarkably smooth skin, great hair, and an easy-going smile; in fact, you can hardly tell how old he is.  We wish we could have spoken longer to Joey, but he was completely swamped by adoring fans.  At the end of his consultations, though, he cheekily posed for us next to the Mercedes Benz showcase in the booth next door.

*What is kinetin you ask?  It’s a special plant with antioxidant powers with revitalizes the texture and tone of women’s skin.  Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Sheryl Crow, Virginia Madsen, Debra Messing and Amanda Peet swear by kinetin to make them look 10 years younger. The Dr. LeWinn line includes anti aging moisturizers, treatments and cleansers, so you can enjoy the secret of A-list celebrities at your own home. Full pic below.

Celebrity Stylist Derek Warburton & Bottomless Closet are teaming up to present “Real Fashion. Real Women. Runway Show” as a grand finale for New York Fashion Week and we, at SocialVixen, want to send you! The event includes Complimentary Cocktails Courtesy of Svedka, Music by DJ Kiss, and  will feature looks by some of the hottest fashion designers including Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson, Rachel Comey, Lela Rose, Krizia, Kim Hicks, Ivana Helsinki, Leila Shams, Joseph, and more! While the fashion will be fabulous, the main attraction of the night will be showing your support for the women of Bottomless Closet.

At Bottomless Closet, women who are surviving different perils in life whether it is homelessness, abuse or job loss find a safe place to re-build their strength and self confidence. Tomorrow’s event will feature 24 REAL New York women from Bottomless Closet who have been cast to walk in the show as a way to bring REAL fashion to the runway. These women, whose sizes range from 4-12, will prove that not only do fashion designers design with glamour in mind, but to show that our industry cares about its real consumer, the women who wear the clothes. It will be the last official show on the Fashion Week calendar (the Empire Hotel is conveniently located across the street from the Lincoln Center) and will be a mix of participating designers, editors, celebrities, friends, and supporters.

To enter, you just have to do 2 easy steps: 1) Click the ‘like’ button for Facebook – located at the bottom of this post and 2) Leave a comment so I know you entered! You MUST leave a comment below or I cannot see that you entered. If you don’t comment then you have not entered.

You can also purchase additional tickets at http://realfashionrealwomen.eventbrite.com/

Tickets includes access to this extraordinary event, taking place on February 16th at 8pm, starting off with a cocktail reception, followed by the inspirational runway show and topped off with a fabulous after-party at the Empire Hotel’s rooftop lounge. There is additional information about Bottomless Closet and the event’s host after the jump…

About Bottomless Closet:

During Bottomless Closet workshops, we spend the first hour on self-esteem building by going around the room discussing all of our challenges. This is a heart wrenching experience. You are never so shocked and moved as being in a room full of women and having one of them admit for the first time that they ran for their lives because their partner was beating them and their children.

Derek Warburton has been involved with Bottomless Closet (http://www.bottomlessclosetnyc.org) for nearly four years and has personally worked with over 450 women. Derek hosts a monthly, two-hour workshop called “HOW TO BE DEREK FABULOUS” that helps prepare homeless women for job interviews. With your help, we can change a woman’s life by providing clothing that is interview- appropriate and can lead to a successful job.

Derek started working with Bottomless Closet because these women and their circumstances are part of his personal real life story. Derek grew up with a displaced mother. They were homeless for 8 months when he was 14 years old. He lived in a tent with no electricity, water or bathroom. He dug their open sewer. But the real story was that his mother had a job the entire time. She was not abused, nor did she do drugs. She was a hard working single parent who got behind on rent. It is a slippery slope to homelessness. Derek wants to do his part in caring for these women who became stigmatized due to their circumstances.

Many stories are similar to this, but we also hear about how they have gotten jobs, their children are prospering again, and, with the many questions of “what do I wear?”, we move on to the makeover part of our session. The women “shop” with Derek from the rooms of donated clothing at Bottomless Closet, as he and his team prepare them for interviews with wardrobe.

Miele, a Brazilian native, began his show with a prelude of Latin beats spun by the Brazilian brothers Anthony and Sean Souza who were wearing hot pink headphones and spinning a lively soundtrack of electronica and world beats. The models walked the runway to the fast tempo sporting boleros, ponchos, and garments with rich appliques, embroidery, woven silks, geometric interweaving, and at times dripping in fringe and a shimmering lamé. The color palette reflected that of a  golden sunset by the sea with shades of yellow, gold, and blue contrasted against a deep black. “Carlos Miele brings Brazil’s beautiful handcraft techniques that were slowly being lost and forgotten to fashion, creating a connection between two worlds that would normally never find each other.” Photo Gallery below.

Carlos Miele

Carlos Miele Fall 2012 images seen in this post were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.

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Carlos Miele Fall 2012 runway images were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.

As for the models, they confidently stormed the runway with fiercely painted-on eyebrow and sleek ponytails wrapped in a metal spiral, which helped create a very futuristic vibe. The music, as can be heard in the video below, also depicts a generation of the future with it’s techno beat combined with a visual lighting display that was applause worthy. The collection was extremely beautiful and consisted of garments that were very much in line with the Fall 2012 season – lots of velvet, leather, metallic embroidery, geometric cutouts, and thigh high slits in the gowns, all creating a glamorous sensibility that, had the music not been pumping through the venue, would have had me humming Katy Perry’s E.T. It seems that the body parts of choice for Fall 2012 are the thigh, as noted in the thigh high slits in the gowns, and the back, as can be seen in many of the low backs – either cut out, v-neck, or cowl draping. More below…

Falguni & Shane Peacock are already popular overseas for creating ultra-feminine and glamorous clothes and now the married duo and parents of one, nine-year old girl, are hoping to expand into the New York market – this was their second season showing in New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In line with their background, the Falguni & Shane Peacock label has plenty of Eastern elements, which coincidentally also seems to be a big trend on this season’s runways. The designers often incorporate contrasting elements into their garments such as feathers, sequins, and plenty of colorful fabrics and they enjoy the challenge and process that goes into creating each design.

Their dresses have caught the attention of several fashionable celebrities (like those sitting front row) including Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, and Nicole Sherzinger. Their designs have even graced the audience of millions on the dancers in Madonna’s Super Bowl XLVI halftime show! (You know you watched).

“We love the idea of elegance and intricacy, whether it is in a scarf or an haute couture garment. Our sensibility, combined with a touch of high octane glamour and our devotion to rock and roll – the transition from chic to edgy, combined with a slightly wicked charm makes our clothes perfect for a rock and roll superstar.”

The Falguni and Shane Peacock label was launched in 2008 based in Mumbai. Already veterans of London Fashion Week, Fall 2012 season marks their second showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

The video below is only meant to provide a feel for the show – the music, etc.

All runway images seen below were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.

Falguni & Shane Peacock Fall 2012

All runway images were taken by Jane Kratochvil Photography.