NYFW diary: Prabal Gurung, Tommy Hilfiger’s anniversary show, and celeb-spotting at every turn

Saturday
While you lovelies were brunching and cocktailing over the weekend, I’ve was hard at work celeb-spotting at the Lincoln Centre (I spy: Carmen Electra, Kristin Bell, J. Lo, Bradley Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris, Aisha Tyler, Kelly Osbourne, Kimora Lee Simmons, Chris Bosh, Rebecca Romijn, Christina Hendricks, and so on, and so on), crossing Manhattan several times a day to attend the shows and trying to avoid the dreaded fashion week blisters that come with this job. Happily, Saturday was a sunny day in every way.

Blue skies and Lacoste first up on the schedule.  Creative director Christophe Lemaire nailed his version of sporty chic (lots of white, sleeveless polos, perforated short shorts and graphic prints) before heading off next season to Hermès.  Was the orange carpet rolled out at Lacoste simply a cheeky way of jumping onto the saddle, so to speak?

Jill Stuart brought out the heavyweights–if not by way of celebs (Kim and Kourtney Kardashian made a very turned out appearance, along with Kourtney’s bad boy baby daddy, Scott Disick), then by way of accessories (Spring 2011 is all about the glossy stacked heel). Another developing trend we spotted at Stuart’s show is the return of colour blocking. From clothing to shoes to bags, this new (old) kid on the block manages to look fresh amidst all of the sandy desert hues on the runways.

Speaking of Prabal Gurung, the designer gave us a caffeinated jolt of colour blocking too–using vibrant blue, poppy and mustard. The item you need now: the relaxed knee-length cuffed shorts. Perfect for fall, and eds everywhere this week are pairing it up with a little jacket and chain bag.

Fun fashion moment of the day: Z Spoke.  Zac Posen’s lower-priced line available exclusively at Saks 5th Avenue.  (Canadian buyers take note; this flirty little line would sell like hotcakes at any one of our upscale department stores). Every girl needs a little froth in her life, some have their boy toys and others have Z Spoke: fruity prints, watermelon pins, bright tailored toppers and ounces of flounces.  It’s a retail goldmine and it’s clear that Posen has the Midas touch.

Sunday
It’s grey, raining and cold and my King-sized bed is saying (in its best Barry White voice) stay a while longer, baby. But fashion waits for no one, especially with the constant social media swirl.  So shower, Starbucks, sprint! Cabs are a beast to find today given the poor weather and eds are scurrying to and from the shows like soaked soldiers on a mission. My award for favourite show of the day goes to DKNY. It’s classics with a twist of New York chic.  Parachute coats, bow blouses, nude shirtdresses, peplum-backed blazers, heritage scarf dresses, frilly floral jumpsuits and ankle-strap pumps. Almost every look included one of Donna’s heritage scarves–whether wrapped into a half-looped ponytail or tied around the neck. It’s the perfect accessory to start your workweek–pretty, polished and professional.  Kind of makes you wish for Monday mornings, doesn’t it?

P.S.: The perfect cap to my big fashion weekend was Tommy Hilfiger’s 25th anniversary show. Rows of celebs (J.Lo flipping her luscious mane beside hottie Bradley Cooper, who chatted a few times to Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks, who towered over Neil Patrick Harris) and an air of optimism on the runway (yellow Bengal stripes, quirky plaid, a hint of mint, a dash of seersucker and a hefty helping of the good ol’ red, white and blue) put us in the mood for a raging after party at the Metropolitan Opera House. Long live preppy!

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