Tavi Gevinson

The ever-productive 15-year-old fashion phenom Tavi Gevinson, who also helms online must-read for teens, Rookie, is forging ahead in her quest for creative dominance and continuing to make adults feel like crap about their lack of accomplishments by adding even more to her already stellar resume: voice-over actress, singer, and one of the rare people Neil Young has given permission to sing “Heart of Gold."

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Yesterday, Simon Spurr showed his outsider, yet still outstanding collection on Milk Studio’s chilly second floor. Spurr’s mantra for the collection--a “new interpretation of country elegance”--was apparent in his choice of olive, black, navy, and gold color schemes, all cut and tailored to perfection, as is now expected of Spurr. Yes, we’ve seen a cotton trench with leather moto-sleeves before–ahem, Burberry Prorsum–but Spurr's was more wearable, a less bulky, ultra-sharp look for cool kids on a farm field trip.

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With a PBR can in my pocket and a glass of DeLeon Tequila in my hand, I negotiated the crowd at Milk Studios, getting tangled in groups of familiar, bold-face names I only get to glimpse but twice a year (not including resort and couture week, if I'm lucky). Last night’s Mac & Milk Fashion Week FW11 kickoff party brought out fashion week friends like Josh Lucas, Liev Schreiber, Tara Subkoff, and Vogue’s Valerie Bolster, models like Le Call and Irina Lazareanu, and ShopBop’s Kate Ciepluch, all excited to catch a performance by The National.

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Starting today, fashion fans across the world will be logging onto their computers to catch coverage of an increasingly digitized Fashion Week: livestreams of almost every major show, busloads of fashion bloggers writing up any and every event they can weasel their way into, and street snappers posting the best pics of NYC style icons hopping from show to show. But in all the comprehensive coverage, there’s one element missing, and that's user-generated content.

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Another season, another Fashion Week. Starting tomorrow, Manhattan will be invaded by race-walking clothes-whores in tight pants, gaudy-chic eyewear, and fur that ain't faux. Packed schedules and the scant number of cabs commuting between Lincoln Center and Milk Studios (where the greatest concentration of runway presentations will be held) make it necessary for designers to promise both steak and sizzle when battling for the attention of buyers, editors, and bloggers. Choosing which show to attend can sometimes be as much about the clothes as it is the spectacle. Herewith, five presentations upping the ante on hype this season.

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Crazy + Sexy + Cool = Betsey Johnson! These are the 3 words I would describe Betsey Johnson. Of all the shows I have attended for Fashion week, this was definitely the most crowded of all. I rushed through the lines hoping I wasn’t late. As I get close to the theatre, I see what is supposed to be 5 long lines of people waiting to get in. Except the lines, were all jumbled together with everyone anxious to get it. I assumed the people waiting in line where on the waiting list and don’t have seat numbers. Boy, was I wrong! The check-in attendants needed to wait for the crowd already checked in to get settled. Eventually, I made my way inside and got my seat on the fourth row. As I look around, I see tons of photographers on my left and in the middle of the runway interviewing Ciara, Kelly Osborne and a few other celebrities attending the show. The fashion show started with a big bang. I see girls riding skater boards on the runway, others dancing, and most of the models flirting and blowing kisses to the audience. image I also feel the American pride displayed by models in soldiers’ outfits and shoes with the flag colors saluting the audience. image It was very hard to pick a favorite outfit for the night but one that has really stood out in my mind is the fiery orange gown worn by an Asian model with long striped (orange and black) socks and long heels. The layered gown was short in the front and long in the back, and as the model sashed her way along the stage, this dress exhumed a sexy aura mixed with feistiness. image I simply fell in love with this dress as I’m sure any fashionably flirty woman would ;-) The show ended with Betsey being….well…Betsey. With Betsey, you must learn how to expect the unexpected. She rides a bike right through the runway, and then in the middle of the runway, she gets off the bike and dances her way through the end of the runway. She lays flat on the runway for at least a good five minutes as photographers snapped away. Dear Betsey, I can only imagine how long and hard you worked on this fashion show, so go on ahead! Claim that runway. If you want to take a longer nap, I’m with you!

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At 9:30 am Tadashi Shoji gowns made jaws drop. The floor-length and cocktail-length stunned the audience. The models stood under thin wood strips bent into a forest and the viewers circled in awe at their clean-swept beauty. The dresses were all neutrals; only a few bordered a blush pink. Some had hues of other pastels but the incredible use of tan and brown is what stunned. the dresses were subtly adorned with beads and jewels that made the collection all the more tasteful. The looks were finished with oversized pearl earrings. A less formal but not at all less sophisticated collection was shown by Frank Tell. The collection covered occasions requiring everything from leggings to tiny tiered dresses. Again, nature was the inspiration, specifically the "Spanish Moss and Ivy of 'The Living Wall' of the Quai Branly Museum (Paris)." This time black, soft whites, grey, and occasionally mint green were the palette, but the feel was still earthy. One could tell by the way the models moved in the clothes they were very wearable and made for practical use. A personal favorite was the tweed laced throughout the collection.

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Just back from the Gregory Parkinson presentation and I must say, I am feeling very inspired. I’d never heard of this Los Angeles-based designer before, but I am so glad I dashed over to the W in Union Square just in time to see his line. The clothes were brilliant—colorful mixes of tied-dyed and pattern garments layered and arranged into artful outfits. It’s not easy to play with patterns and colors as bold as these, but the mash up proved that this guy is most certainly a talent to look out for.

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