Scenes from Day 1 of New York Fashion Week Metro.us

New York Fashion Week Day 1: BCBG review and more

Metro’s style director, Kenya Hunt, and style editor, Tina Chadha, are reporting from the ground at New York Fashion Week. Read their daily dispatches for the latest on what’s coming down the runway and lots more.

A model walks the runway at the BCBGMAXAZRIA Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show.
Credit: Getty Images

Review:

It can’t be easy being the first show to kick off Fashion Week. When I spoke to Lubov Azria she said she actually prefers it in a way. “No one has any expectations — they just want to see new exciting things,” said the designer, then adding, “but then on the other side, people can forget about
you three days after.”

She doesn’t have to worry about that. To thumping Middle Eastern beats, BCBG’s Fall show seduced with long, sinuous silhouettes, patchwork prints in navy and ivory and a mix of lace with leather. The true standouts, however, were the tough, edgy coats. I would wear all of them exactly how they were
styled: with cool, cashmere beanies.

Lubov Azria, on the hodgepodge inspirations that made up the Fall 2013 collection

“Last September I had the pleasure to visit Istanbul and I was so taken by the interior design, the Blue Mosque, the architecture and history. I took tons of pictures. I’m originally from Ukraine, but I’ve never seen anything like it. So we started with that. We were also inspired by Phil Frost — he’s a contemporary artist. What we loved about him is the way he layered texture. He would have a white paint — almost graffiti-like artwork — layered on top of old graphics that were absolutely breathtaking.

We used that as a new way of doing prints. And then, when I was in Europe, I took a lot of pictures of gypsies. I loved the way they look. If you take them out of the context, and [view them] like they’re just cool bohemian ladies, then all of a sudden they have the best style out of anybody.”

: A model on the runway at the Kimberly Ovitz fall 2013 fashion show.
Credit: Getty Images

1PM – Maybe it’s the fact that Rihanna recently wore one of the designer’s dresses in her video for “Diamonds,” but Kimberly Ovitz seems to have a higher profile this season. A sunglass clad Anna Wintour was sitting front and center in the dark warehouse space (it’s why I think the show started relatively on time). According to Ovitz’s show notes she looked to “the protection system seen in animals and insects” to create what looked like futuristic warrior clothes. Her modern day Princess Leias, with extreme finger waves and hair tied in multiple knots, confidently strutted down the runway in beautifully draped long tunics and asymmetrical dresses in galaxy tones (blues, silvers and earthy browns). Highlights included cocoon like scarves and some knock-em-dead body-con dresses. Every woman needs one of those in her arsenal.

: A model walks the runway at the Richard Chai Love Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show.
Credit: Getty Images

11 AM – The photographers are going nuts at Richard Chai Love taking pictures of Ashlee Simpson and Christina Ricci, who are sitting front row. An older journalist turns to me and asks, “Who’s the blonde?” Her reaction when I tell her: “Ohh? Jessica Simpson’s sister? The one who lip-synced on Saturday Night Live?” Poor Ashlee. As for the show, Chai’s usual minimal urbanista got in touch with her femme side. Tops came cinched at the waist, a bomber jacket skipped down the runway in a zippy print, which from where I was sitting, could be described as a mix of cool plaid and happy floral. Other highlights included a silk negligee-like dress and a lavender floral suit. The final looks, including a sexy, body-hugging pencil skirt in bold violet punctuated the ladylike vibe of the collection.

A little something more
Metro’s style editor, Tina Chadha, equipped with her phone and Instagram takes us backstage at New York Fashion Week.