Where Launching Your Line Becomes Reality

NYC Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011 Collection - by Karen Schaler

I admit it. The first thing that came to mind when I found out I was going to host some New York Fashion Week coverage for StartingACLothingLine.com and the Digital Fashion Pro Team was “what am I going to wear?” I mean, come on, I’m a girl, it’s only natural, right? Add that to the fact it’s hard enough deciding what to wear on TV without adding the pressure of knowing you’re going to be around some of the best dressed people in the world.

So, I did what any smart host and correspondent would do. I wore a “safe” little black dress and carried flats in my bag to replace my sky-high heels with whenever I needed to run after someone fabulous to get an interview.

Let me explain the running part. When you want to interview top designers, celebrities, stylists, fashion buyers and models during New York Fashion Week you better be ready to hustle because this is one premier, action packed event that doesn’t slow down for anyone! Fashion’s elite are coming and going so fast you need to move not to miss anything.

One example, Nicole Richie, likely going to the Charlotte Ronson or Zac Posen show that were held back to back, slipped by us while we were interviewing two other celeb sisters, Vanessa & Angela. Both sisters were excited about what they had seen so far on the runway for upcoming Spring 2011 fashions and they talked about their own clothing line Pastries.

We caught up with celebrity stylist Rosemary Ponzo as she was leaving the Vivienne Tam show. Her funky black ensemble by Morgan Le Fay definitely stood out in the crowd and fit her high-energy personality perfectly. This is a woman that lives and breathes fashion. She shared with us how important it is to stay true to yourself when you’re finding your signature style and to always have an accessory that ‘pops’, something that’s memorable.

Of course, you can’t miss the models, they definitely stand out, literally above the crowd. Interviewing them was the one time I wished I was wearing my sky-high heels because these stunners are as tall as they are beautiful.

They chatted with us about working with different designers, the casting call process and the challenges of walking the catwalk in insanely high heels! Especially because the new runways at Lincoln Center are longer than Bryant Park. They also told us they like working with designers that make clothes that are stylish and comfortable and compliment a woman’s body.

To find out what we can expect to see in the stores next spring we turned to the fashion buyers for some insight. Many buyers we interviewed like Jamilla Davis from Saks 5^th Avenue said next spring plan to see a lot of softer colors, variations of whites and pastels, along with more flowing, feminine lines and fun prints. Sheer is also out in full force so ladies you’ll want to be in top form.

We also caught up with one young, gutsy designer, Shavonne DeAnn from Philadephia who didn’t have a show inside Lincoln Center so she brought four models to pose outside on the plaza. She knew with more than 100,000 people expected to attend Fashion Week she could get some exposure and it worked. Photographers lined up to take photos. She says her inspiration comes from what she sees everyday on the street, people rushing around living their lives, so her fashion line is all about comfort and affordability.

When it comes to fashion media, you guessed it, they were out in full force, thousands of them, literally. From magazine editors to bloggers, they were all rushing around trying to catch as many shows as possible. We talked to a few who told us the trick when it comes to seeing the shows is pacing and planning. They all gave top reviews for the new venue at Lincoln Center, saying it’s much more spacious than Bryant Park and more high tech, making it easier for them to file stories and get the access and interviews they need.

I know we got all the interviews we needed and then some, but like a kid in a candy store, you always want more. It’s such a rare opportunity to have access to the most talented people in the American fashion industry and have them all in one place, you just hate to leave. But then you remember there’s always February, the next time New York hosts Fashion Week debuting fall and winter styles. So stay tuned!

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Karen Schaler is an Emmy award-winning television correspondent, author and writer. She currently works as a freelance host & correspondent for a new travel show on ABC News and is editor of www.traveltherapytrips.com.

Karen Schaler is an Emmy award-winning television correspondent, author and writer currently hosting travel show on ABC News.

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