NYC Fashion Week Fall 2009

So in case you studious MBAs had your noises too far buried into your books to notice, but last week was Fashion Week here in our fair city. That's right! The glitterati stormed Manhattan to witness the inspired creations that we will all be wearing this Fall. "Fall," you ask? Well, in case you aren't familiar with the cycles of fashion, the collections on the runway this month were for Fall 2009 and the collections later in September will be for Spring/Summer 2010. In macroeconomic terms, fashion shows are an eight to nine month leading indicator of what will be hot down the road. That's plenty of time for you to get smart on the fashion trends for subsequent seasons so you can hunt for great deals later! If you were like me, you followed the fashion shows, not just on your favorite blog sites but also on Twitter. It was because of Twitter updates that I knew the Marc Jacobs show started on time! It was because of Twitter that I knew which shows were attended by which celebrities. It was because of Twitter that I knew what trends and motifs each of the designers carried in their collections.

So, do you want to know what you'll be wearing eight months from now? Well, I'm here to tell ya!

It was Fall, so naturally layers were a central theme in all collections. But strangely, some designers incorporated hoods and caps in their collections, of which I am not a fan of for us business folk. Other peculiar layers included long, arm-length gloves and large, high-necked collars. I approve of both! Men and women can use scarves and high-necked collars to add a level of style and sophistication to their business looks. To understand what I mean, take a look at Michael Kors collection.

Another theme for women in Fall 2009 is leggings. Leggings are a way for women to add a layer under a shorter skirt and get away with a look that might otherwise be a little risqué. Leggings also provide women with an opportunity to inject color into the look. You could wear a black top and a black skirt but with chartreuse leggings, you create an entirely stylish outfit.

In Fall 2009 you will also see shiny, sparkly fabrics, particularly for women but also for men. Metallic blouses and skirts, subdued by matte-finished layers will not be overwhelming for business attire. On the contrary, such shiny surfaces will show your co-workers that you are chic and in the fashion-know.

Max Azria's collection included drapping, which is completely appropriate for business blouses, skirts and dresses. Pay attention to this trend! It's hot on just about any body type.

The Marc Jacobs collection showed us a couple of things: 1) individualism and 2) a retrospective look at the early 80s. Each model had a different hairstyle, suggesting that people should be themselves and create their own personal styles. The 80's punkishness was just enough funk and flair to take business fashion to an edgy level that some can tread without fear.

So, in case you missed the fashion shows, you can view the collections at the labels' websites or my favorite site to see what's hot: http://nymag.com/fashion/

Of course, Fashion Week isn't just about the shows. The parties are half the fun! I had the pleasure of attending several parties with fellow Sternies and even running into a certain marketing professor at a model agency party. Even though there was much to celebrate at the parties, one theme I noticed off the runway is a consciousness of the fashion world that they too are affected by the recession. Marc Jacobs, often considered the hottest ticket in town, cut its runway show attendance by two-thirds and cancelled their after party.

Most importantly, take a look at the fashion shows this past week so that as Fall fashions hit the stores in several months, you can shop around and find the best deals for your budget while maintaining a keen sense of style.