Spring 2010 fashions to be previewed at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

New York’s fashion week officially kicks off Sept.10,and this one is significant because it’s the last season it will be staged at Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan.

Before Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week relocates  to the Lincoln Center beginning with the fall’10 collections in February 2010, the final hurrah at the park will see many familiar faces.

Cesar Galindo

Karen Sabag

Michael Angel kicks off the tent shows at 9 a.m. Sept.10, and Tommy Hilfiger closes the week on the 17^th at 8 p.m. Between are nearly80 other scheduled shows at the site, including swimwear labels Rosa Cha and Gottex, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Zac Posen, Diane von Furstenberg, Tadashi Shoji, Anna Sui, Ralph Lauren, and Ralph Rucci.

Max Azria has once again designed three collections that will be showing, including his signature line, Herve Leger, and BCBG. Among those showing off-site, some independently from event organizer IMG, are Rachel Roy, Zang Toi, Farah Angsana, Halston, Peter Som, Richard Chai, Marc Jacobs, Kai Milla (Stevie Wonder’s wife), and New York-based international designer Henry Jackson with a tribute to Michelle Obama.

Designers and their staffs put months of planning and tens of thousands of dollars into what on average boils down to a 12-minute show. But creating a buzz about their brand and being the subject of photos transmitted around the world is, many find, worth the stress and expense.

Gottex

To most designers, fashion week is a chance to share their vision of how you and I should dress. Molly Grad is debuting as head of swimwear design for Gottex. She brings to the brand undergraduate and graduate degrees from London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and design stints at Stella McCartney, Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, and Gianfranco Ferre.

“Gottex has an amazing heritage,” she said. “I am going to take the DNA of the brand and give it a fresh direction without forsaking its incredible past.”

Many designers are promising lots of colors to reflect optimism and an upbeat attitude. Says Milly designer Michelle Smith: “My spring collection is inspired by intoxicating exotic colors, luxurious fabrics and rich textures translated into accessible city-chic shapes; offering women a channel of escape with fresh and sophisticated combinations in modern silhouettes.”

Rebecca Taylor

Rebecca Taylor pays homage to the city girl with urban feminine looks features strong shoulders and hourglass waists. She’ll be sending out architectural stretch dresses, corset-inspired bustiers, flippy print skirts, leather minis, sporty cashmere sweaters and towering print sandals. A mélange of points and textures are punched up with colors such as apple red, electric blue, shocking pink, peachy orange, jade and desert tan.

Tracy Reese

Tracy Reese explores the ying and the yang, juxtaposing structured and relaxed, sheer and opaque, soft and hard. She’s doing layers, lively prints, bold colors, embellishments, ruching and draping.

And she promises more of the impeccable dresses that have made her a household name. “A passion fruit surplice frock in a relaxed, draped silhouette with textural embellishment is the perfect piece to kick off the season with a look that is elegant with edge,” she said.

Cesar Galindo fuses fantasy and fun with tailored gowns, cocktail dresses, and suiting in silk charmeuse, foiled linens, chiffons and other fabrics in shades of red, fuchsia, orange, gold, silver and taupe and accented with metal, beads, and mesh.

“The current moment dictates original design desires, and my clientele expects pieces which take them places and allow them to be feminine, beautiful, captivating, and not basic at this point in time,” he said. “They seek looks which are classic, forward, and filled with fantasy. Fantasy is part of the modern movement currently at hand, and I intend to reflect on it with this collection.”

Susan Farber's Belize Brick bag

The main lobby of the tents is the hub of action and lots of freebies. The TRESemme booth will return, as well as McCafe Coffees for the second season with free beverages. Maybelline New York and O.N.E. Water are new to the venue while Chambord is once again the official liqueur of the event, with the spotlight this time on its black raspberry liqueur and free special fashion week cocktails made from it.

Throughout September, scores of fashion and style events are scheduled across New York that capitalize on the global media spotlight. Many are listed on the exhaustive Fashion Calendar, which costs $100 to buy and is compiled and circulated independently of IMG.

Chambord lemonade

One of the many events of note is a sale of Susan Farber Collections handbags on Gilt Fuse beginning Sept. 3. Fringes are hot, and many of her soft Italian leather bags feature them and other fashionable design elements. It’s no wonder the line is a favorite of stores from Henri Bendel to Harvey Nichols and fashion magazines such as Elle and Lucky. Click on the promotional link http://www.giltfuse.com/thestylearbiter using the promo code thstylearbiter for special access.