Sneak Peek at New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK—Once again, Lincoln Center is graced by the most influential new looks for the coming fall as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, earlier known as New York Fashion Week, kicked off for the second time at the city’s most prestigious venue.

The eight-day fashion event officially commenced on February 10. But as usual, a celebrity runway for a new collection of Heart Truth took place on the evening before.

Featuring dozens of beautiful red dresses from different designers, the Heart Truth collection was founded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The campaign aims to bring attention to the problem of heart disease in American women.

Among the celebrities in attendance supporting the Heart Truth event were Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, X-Men actress Dania Ramirez, singer Eve, and Italian-American news personality Giuliana Rancic.

Actress and model Dita Von Teese was also in the line. She handpicked a number by New York-based designer Zac Posen, who is highly favored by female celebrities for the aesthetics of his pieces. The refined style line of the gown successfully detailed the actress’s gorgeous figure.

Nicholas K, the label managed by designer Nicholas Kunz and her brother and business partner Christopher Kunz, was again chosen to open the grand event.

The duo’s new collection gave a tender touch of country style and nature to the stage. As Nicholas put it herself, inspiration came from “the perfect cabin, surrounded by protected land with reservoirs, trails for hiking, forests for hunting, and streams for fishing,” according to an official press release.

Along with colors from forests, she mixed elements of nomadic and aboriginal cultures into her collection, such as prints inspired by the Navajo people and Mongolian fur to create the feel of ancient life.

The 2010 Swarovski Menswear Designer Award winner, Richard Chai, delivered a casual, military note. Chai’s rich experience from fashion capitals like New York and Milano led to his famous use of sophisticated layers and slouchy downtown styles.

His Fall 2011 collection preserved the neutral smoky shades that have been trending for the past few winters. At the same time, the collection is minimally lightened by touches of crème and floral patterns. Chai told the Wall Street Journal that the collection was inspired by New York girls who “wore their boyfriend’s clothes.”

A rising star and celebrity in the fashion industry Christian Siriano was the youngest winner of Project Runway. His designs were said to be “works of art” by Oprah Winfrey.

This season, the 25-year-old designer brought luxury fashion on stage. His pieces avoided the bright colors and casual styles and were going for sleek looks in black or charcoal.

One of the Christian Siriano dresses that wowed the audience featured huge rose-shaped ruffles at the end. The use of voile between the layers of the dress visually reduced its weight.

Can’t wait to see more? Watch out for online streaming of more than a dozen collections including those from Vera Wang, Michael Kors, and Anna Sui on the official YouTube channel of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, download the application called The Cut on the Runway to have high resolution photos from the runway delivered to your iPad, and stay tuned for our next report.