StartingAClothingLine.com @ New York Fashion Week Spring 2011

 

 

 

See StartingAClothingLine.com Emmy Winning Host Karen Schaler’s Interviews

with Department Store Buyers, Celebrity Designers, Reality TV Stars, Pro

Athletes and more at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week! Be Inspired as

you get a first hand account of what takes place at Fashion Week + the trends for

Spring 2011 + hear some great tips for new designers. If you want to become a

designer and get your line out there - this is a video you don’t want to miss!

 

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NYC Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011 Collection

- by Karen Schaler

 

I admit it. The first thing that came to mind when I found out I was going to host

some New York Fashion Week coverage for StartingACLothingLine.com and

the Digital Fashion Pro Team was “what am I going to wear?” I mean, come on,

I’m a girl, it’s only natural, right? Add that to the fact it’s hard enough deciding

what to wear on TV without adding the pressure of knowing you’re going to be

around some of the best dressed people in the world.

 

So, I did what any smart host and correspondent would do. I wore a “safe” little

black dress and carried flats in my bag to replace my sky-high heels with

whenever I needed to run after someone fabulous to get an interview.

 

Let me explain the running part. When you want to interview top designers,

celebrities, stylists, fashion buyers and models during New York Fashion Week

you better be ready to hustle because this is one premier, action packed event

that doesn’t slow down for anyone! Fashion’s elite are coming and going so fast

you need to move not to miss anything.

 

One example, Nicole Richie, likely going to the Charlotte Ronson or Zac Posen

show that were held back to back, slipped by us while we were interviewing two

other celeb sisters, Vanessa & Angela. Both sisters were excited about what they

had seen so far on the runway for upcoming Spring 2011 fashions and they talked

about their own clothing line Pastries. 

 

We caught up with celebrity stylist Rosemary Ponzo as she was leaving the

Vivienne Tam show. Her funky black ensemble by Morgan Le Fay definitely

stood out in the crowd and fit her high-energy personality perfectly. This is a

woman that lives and breathes fashion. She shared with us how important it is to

stay true to yourself when you’re finding your signature style and to always have

an accessory that ‘pops’, something that’s memorable.

 

Of course, you can’t miss the models, they definitely stand out, literally above the

crowd. Interviewing them was the one time I wished I was wearing my sky-high

heels because these stunners are as tall as they are beautiful.

 

They chatted with us about working with different designers, the casting call

process and the challenges of walking the catwalk in insanely high heels!

Especially because the new runways at Lincoln Center are longer than Bryant

Park. They also told us they like working with designers that make clothes that

are stylish and comfortable and compliment a woman’s body.

 

To find out what we can expect to see in the stores next spring we turned to the

fashion buyers for some insight. Many buyers we interviewed like Jamilla Davis

from Saks 5th Avenue said next spring plan to see a lot of softer colors, variations

of whites and pastels, along with more flowing, feminine lines and fun prints. Sheer

is also out in full force so ladies you’ll want to be in top form.

 

We also caught up with one young, gutsy designer, Shavonne DeAnn from

Philadephia who didn’t have a show inside Lincoln Center so she brought four

models to pose outside on the plaza. She knew with more than 100,000 people

expected to attend Fashion Week she could get some exposure and it worked.

 

Photographers lined up to take photos. She says her inspiration comes from what

she sees everyday on the street, people rushing around living their lives, so her

fashion line is all about comfort and affordability.

 

When it comes to fashion media, you guessed it, they were out in full force,

thousands of them, literally. From magazine editors to bloggers, they were all

rushing around trying to catch as many shows as possible. We talked to a few

who told us the trick when it comes to seeing the shows is pacing and planning.

They all gave top reviews for the new venue at Lincoln Center, saying it’s much

more spacious than Bryant Park and more high tech, making it easier for them

to file stories and get the access and interviews they need.

 

I know we got all the interviews we needed and then some, but like a kid in a

candy store, you always want more. It’s such a rare opportunity to have access

to the most talented people in the American fashion industry and have them all in

one place, you just hate to leave. But then you remember there’s always

February, the next time New York hosts Fashion Week debuting fall and winter

styles. So stay tuned!

 

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Karen Schaler is an Emmy award-winning television correspondent, author and

writer. She currently works as a freelance host & correspondent for a new travel

show on ABC News and is editor of www.traveltherapytrips.com.