With all the shows, parties, and general merriment during New York Fashion Week, it’s tricky deciding what to go to and what to say no to. Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Stella McCartney, Abaeté…yes please. So many shows, so little time. Despite where your fashion loyalty resides, the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show is a must. If you want to be in-the-know about the next “It” designers and support the future of fashion, this is the event for you. A New York non-profit organization, Gen Art debuts the best up-and-coming prodigies in art, film, music, and fashion. The company hosts runway shows, networking parties, shopping extravaganzas, and fashion seminars in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. Gen Art has also teamed up with Bravo’s super hot show, Project Runway, to assist with casting for seasons 1, 3, 4, and 5. In the past, established designers like Zac Posen, Rodarte, and Geren Ford have emerged from the Gen Art runway. This year, six womenswear, 2 menswear, and 3 accessory designers will be featured in the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show. For womenswear, JF and SON, Ideeen, SARIAH, LIALIA, Richard Ruiz, and CRHEE will show their collections. Menswear designers include Hyden Yoo and Philip Sparks, and accessory designers consist of Antoinette Lee Designs, DEKA RAY, and Heutchy. The event will be held Thursday, September 4th from 7pm to 11:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center on 311 West 34th St. Grab your tickets quickly! The prices range from $50-$150 depending on where you sit and if you’re a Gen Art member. You can order tickets from www.genart.org/event. See you by the runway… ~ Maria Denardo

**Gen Art photo via www.genart.org **

**JF and SON photo via www.jfandson.com **

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Shopping for fall is an intimidating affair; there’s a maddening amount of items to choose from. In fact, if you keep up to date on all your fashion magazines chances are you’ll thumb through 10,000+ pages full of new trends and “must-haves,” during the August thru November months. Between the excessive options and labyrinthian stores, even the most thoughtful shoppers can be driven completely mental.

Fortunately, the trend-hungry style set—including masterminds behind said magazines—test drive the latest looks long before Everyday Janes, which means we can all benefit from their sartorial experiments. A quick glance at some of recent fashion crowd snapshots—specifically Peter Miszuk’s photographs in Elle.com’s Street Chic section, some of which can be seen below—yields a few shortcuts in the biannual (ok, quarterly for some) race to update one’s wardrobe. Read up, get on with it, and enjoy a fuss-free fall:

Why Bother: The classic leather bomber comes across as being inherently cool, even if you, yourself are not. Plus, the latest cropped & tailored versions works with short skirts, full-leg and skinny-fit pants.

Why Bother: Because they can make you look trendy and au courant even when you’re hiding behind trusty head-to-toe black ensembles.

Why Bother: Same reason as the bold shoe stuff above, but these ’80s flash-backs will keep your legs warm while making you look hot. Good stuff.

Why Bother: A little sprinkle of silver studs gives you instant street cred. Cute sidekicks sold separately.

Why Bother: If you’ve got a fantastic, year-round complexion, flaunt it. Sickly yellow undertone-kids like myself can’t wear citrus shades after August. And oh yeah, carrot will be a great carry-over shade, even after the ‘60s trend simmers down. (Which it will. Or rather, is; depends on what season you’re talking about. Let’s just move on.)

Why Bother: Cuz Chloe does, and that’s all you need to know.

All photos Peter Miszuk, on Elle.com

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An Annjet Koster’s design, as seen at the Virtual Shoe Museum

As you well know, there’s a lot of less-than-intriguing fashion websites out there (hopefully GlamChic isn’t one of them). But sometimes, when trolling around online, you’ve got to give off-kilter sites a chance. Take the Virtual Shoe Museum, a site I stumbled upon this weekend. Sure, it’s a little hard to decipher the curatorial direction behind the “museum” and the categories of avant-garde creations form a confusingly broad spectrum, from “Instep Focus” to “Paper Styles.”

Still, there’s some good fashion to be found, the kind of stuff those good ole glossy magazines won’t be showing you anytime soon. Or will they?

Marloes TenBhomer’s architectural heel                   Marni’s spring platform

When looking at the site’s indie designer showcase, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between their shoes and some of those seen in the recent runway shows. If nothing else, the e-comparison makes big-name designers’ styles seem a little less wacky and a lot more wearable. So merci Virtual Shoe Museum, merci.

Annejet Koster boot                  Marc Jacobs’ sheer spring shoe-boot

Technorati Tags: Fashion, Fashion News, Spring Trends, Platform Shoes, Shoe Museum, Marc Jacobs, Marni

*Images: Virtual Shoe Museum ; spring shoes, Style.com

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I’ve attended A LOT of fashion shows recently, and I hate to say it, but sprinkled in among the many flirty dresses and other pretty, pricey numbers there were a few too svelte, slightly cranky-looking models. Now, like any good fashion editor, I heart cool catwalkers to the point of obsession, but part of me still yearns for the time when bodacious, beaming girls ruled the runways. (Remember Gisele, Karolina, and Carmen in their early years?) If you feel the same, take heart, as you can help decide who the next fresh face in fashion will be. And the best part is that there’s no reality TV show-watching required; just skip on over to V Magazine, to vote on your favorite beaming beauty.

Also, if you A) Lucked out in the genetics game and are naturally skinny & smiley B) Are free of any major self-image issues C) Want to travel the world, or at least live it up in NYC for a few days, you can apply to be the next V Magazine model. The nitty-gritty details can be found here, but all you really need to know is that there’s $, clothes, plane tickets, and some online notoriety in it for you if you win. And really, what more could you ask for?

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Imitation of Christ Spring 2008

Today I had the pleasure of previewing Imitation of Christ’s spring 2008 collection. The line—no longer helmed by downtown doyenne Tara Subkoff—offered more light-hearted takes on the kind of artsy, rebellious ensembles the label is best known for.

Looks from Imitation’s Spring line

And just in time too: Imitation’s spring separates and palette feel a bit like the styles seen on Nina Ricci’s runway:

Nina Ricci Spring 2008

Imitation’s intimate presentation—which was held in a midtown loft—reminded me that plenty of noteworthy (and often, more affordable) styles are unveiled off the runway. Take Chris Benz’s spring line:

Models sport Chris Benz’s spring 2008 line

The J.Crew and Marc Jacobs alum presented his preppy yet still luxurious spring line in the New York Yacht Club, whose grand ballroom resembles the interior of a ship. Neon-patent loafers co-designed by Christian Louboutin were among Benz’ many covetable styles.

Jenny Kayne is another star of New York’s off-runway roster.

Looks from Jenny Kayne’s spring collection

Looks from Jenny Kayne’s spring presentation

The L.A.-based Kayne showcased her breezy, boldly-hued pieces in an airy Manhattan loft. Her pantsuits work in spring’s borrowed-from-the-boys trend while her floor-grazing floral gowns call for a garden party setting.

A few days later, Kayne’s fellow Californian, Cynthia Vincent, set up shop in a loft across the street from Bryant Park.

Mannequins clad in Cynthia Vincent’s spring collection

Vincent’s wall of inspiration

Vincent quickly made herself at home in the Big Apple: She dismantled her studio’s inspiration wall and displayed it in the temporary showroom along with her quirky-chic shoes and airy chiffon dresses.

Cathy Pill wears a dress of her own design

In Paris I caught up with Belgian designer Cathy Pill, and rifled through her draped blouses and art-nouveau- patterned separates. And somehow, I managed to steal a few minutes of Alexis Mabille’s time to go through his latest collections of bow-ties, bags, and unisex styles.

Mabille with a bag of his own design

A Mabille-designed display at Didier Ludot

The former YSL and Dior Homme designer was quite busy during Paris fashion week, between his window-dressing at elite vintage emporium Didier Ludot and partying at Colette, where his bow-tie box (which he created with Goyard) had just hit shelves. I saw Mabille just long enough to learn that Karl Lagerfeld had bought a few of his Goyard totes and that Mabille’s hand-sewn embellished pants already had a waiting list. See what you can glean when not sitting front row at the shows?

Goyard /Alexis Mabille Bow-Tie Box

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Before we bid adieu to the spring 2008 fashion shows, let’s review some highlights from Paris fashion week:

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

CHLOE

HERMES

LANVIN

LOUIS VUITTON

MIU MIU

NINA RICCI

SONIA RYKIEL

YSL

For more–including the all-important photo credits–check this out.

For more Spring 2008 fashion week coverage, click here.

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Outside the Vuitton show

The Louis Vuitton, the grand finale of Paris fashion week, started off slowly. Guests made their way through the courtyard of the Louvre, mingling and swilling champagne at the pre-show cocktail party. The tent, printed with the covers of retro romance rags set a campy-sexy mood, as did the trail of candles which led to the backstage area.

Once inside, guests were made to wait upwards of an hour for the show to begin, but there was plenty of entertainment to keep impatience at bay: Victoria Beckham darted back and forth across the runway to talk shop with Harpers Bazaar and Elle editors (the latter glossy will feature Posh on their January cover); Jackie O’s sis Lee Radzwill offered up Sofia Coppola and Zoe Cassavetes mints, Pharrell and Kanye West chit-chatted (who knew they were friends?), Dita Von Teese and Alexis Phifer traded notes, PR reps fetched Sophie Dahl glasses of water, Courtney Love lit up a cigarette and looked bored.

Louis Vuitton “Nurses”

Fortunately for all, the collection was far from being boring. The show kicked off with 12 supermodels—Naomi, Karolina, Natalia and more—waltzing down the runway in filmy nurse uniforms and toting multi-color bags co-designed by artist Richard Prince. Underneath the staid uniform shell, each girl wore a corseted dress which created a sexy 1950’s hour-glass silhouette. (The appearance of the retro shape on the Vuitton made Nina Ricci’s bulbous spring gowns suddenly seem more au courrant.)

Nina Ricci Spring 2008 gown

In the rest of the collection Marc Jacobs played with his concepts of the season; transparent layers, whimsical decadence, deconstructed luxury, etc and gussied them up with pastel sequins, glitzy embellishments, multi-color bags and swaths of tulle. (Nearly every model wore a pouf of the tutu fabric on her head, which looked like high-fashion versions of your grandmother’s“hair net.”) More on the clothes and the TV-like lunch box Jacobs toted down the runway, but here’s a quick video clip (complete with star sightings) to whet your appetite:

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Daslu’s Spring jackets on display at the Plaza Athnee

‘80s styles played a big role in Paris fashion week, especially punk-inspired leather jackets. Biker babes turned up in the Gaultier and Nina Ricci shows, while the French Vogue team made the separate even cooler off the runway. But for those who want the tough luxe look without a Hells Angels vibe, the tres cher Brazilian department store/label Daslu whipped up sweeter versions in gilded leather and pastel suede.

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Like many New York-based designers, Devi Kroell set up shop in Paris this week, to show her latest collection to international press and store buyers. The accessories designer laid out her decadent wares in the Marie Antoinette suite at the Plaza Athnee.

Her gold-trimmed suede heels, python totes, and gold-tipped stilettos (all, cue drum roll, “fit for a queen,”) looked right at home in the lavish setting, while her crystal-inlaid wooden clutches, and satin evening bags belong on the arm of an elegant, benefit-hopping social swan.

While all pieces were tempting treasures, the collection’s real gem was Kroell’s version of the reusable shopping bag. Her nylon tote cleverly zips into a wallet-size croc-covered square—perfect for tucking into one’s bag and taking out when an errand or an unexpected shopping excursion calls for it.

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Looks from Paul & Joe Spring 20o8

Mee-oow! Paul & Joe designer Sophie Albou, who always scratches the itch for insouciant style, turned out a number of breezy feline-printed dresses for spring. The patterned pieces—which conjure up images of Kmart’s cat–covered Trapper Keepers and pencil cases circa ‘89—are for the girl who’s decidedly too cool for school.

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