Yigal Azrouël’s Spring/Summer ’09 collection during NYC Fashion Week was packed with casual cool clothes that women can wear straight off the runway. The color palette was soft overall with hushed shades of khaki, grey, blue, pink, olive, and white. Dramatic draping and asymmetrical lines, his signature, were ever-present and added to the relaxed downtown collection. Layering different pieces and fabrics was a big theme of Yigal’s along with cropped pants. That’s right, you can keep you fall purchases for another season! His models wore simple slicked back fold-over ponytails (throwback to sixth grade gym class) that allowed the clothes to be the focus. Heavy black cat eyes were added for an extra bit of edge. This French-Moroccan born designer definitely has a way of making clothes exude a sort of quiet yet strong confidence that sneaks up on you. One reason why well-known photographer and ANTM judge Nigel Barker with fellow ANTM judge Jay Alexander sat front row. ELLE’s Editor-at-Large, Nina Garcia, was also in attendance.

FYI: She’s just as gorgeous and skinny in real life as on TV. So fabulous. When asked why she supports Yigal Azrouël, Ms. Garcia answered, “I think he’s great, Yigal. He’s a straight man that appreciates real women, and it’s a different point of view. It’s an interesting point of view when a straight man is designing, and I think it’s more feminine in a way. He’s a talented designer. The retailers love him, the press loves him.” I couldn’t agree more. ~ Maria Denardo