Runway

Jason Wu: Think a gust of chilly temps and freezing sleet will keep the sartorial set at bay? Not a chance. Fashion’s upper echelon braved the climes (in five inch, heels no less) to pack into Jason Wu’s Park Ave. show on Friday afternoon. “The first thing I thought when I woke up was, Is there a snow day?’ But nothing was canceled. That’s so New York; so New York Fashion Week,” said Girls starlet Allison Williams, perched front row, as was Stephanie Seymour, with her Brant boys in tow. And if it was a show they came for, a show they got. Wu sent out a legion of mods in elegant day frocks, nighttime dress-coats, and pleated skirts in a color palette anchored in black, grey, red, and bone. Of particular note: a pair of wool stovepipe pants balanced with a belted peplum top that’s quickly becoming a key trend for Fall ’13.

St. John: Trays of champagne and wine lined the corridor leading into the St. John presentation last night: Ah, the joys of the freer presentation format! Another treat: the gorgeous pieces on display, like a navy knit cape dress (the designer’s personal fave; one of ours, too) and a double-faced cashmere coat with big fox fur cuffs, to a teal liquid satin gown that created an impossibly statuesque effect on an already-towering model. The impeccable collection was whipped up by the line’s senior vice president of design, Greg Myler, and offered up sophistication and elegance without feeling dame-esque.

Check out the latest catwalk vids from Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week

Last night, VFiles threw their fashion week fête at newly-minted hautespot Bow. Downtown chicsters crowded the Bowery to fight their way through a jam packed door (all the best bashes have them, after all) to party with the style set like V’s Cecilia Dean, Derek Blasberg, Harry and Peter Brant, Caroline Murphy, Raquel Zimmerman, Italo Zucchelli, Kate Lanphear and Brad Goreski. DJ May Kwok spun, and Theophilus London performed to the hyped crowd. Post-performance, London kept the party going with the likes of Hannah Bronfman. The Kills’ Alison Mosshart showed up looking perfectly punk in a leather jacket and multi-colored locks. As for the surprise guest? P’Trique, from S**T Fashion Girls Say, showed up and was the toast of the party. Not to surprisingly, he’s been quite the toast at the tents, too, as far as the Twitter scene is concerned.

The Dow may be down, but fashion’s S’n’P index is way up! No longer relegated to pushing aftershave and playing the goofy dad in the Kohl’s catalog, guys with a little gray on top are landing major campaigns and raking in the big bucks. We went hunting for the biggest foxes and bagged these three.
BY JENNA SAUERS

A dinner befitting a decade of Daily-ing? Thanks to an uberstylish klatch of our nearest and dearest—fete accompli! Indochine was abuzz from the moment the Maybelline New York co-hosted soiree commenced, with tippling on tangy blood orange martinis, copious white vino and the ilk, avec nibbles like lemongrass-laced beef-wrapped asparagus, veggie summer rolls, skewered chicken, and charred shrimp. Even on an eve crammed with NYFW shindigs, our editorial faves dipped in for a cocktail or two (Graydon! Carine Roitfeld avec Stephen Gan! Anne Fulenwider! Constance White! Robbie Myers making the rounds with Joe Zee!), designers made the rounds.

Creatures of the Wind: Sophisticated layered separates was the general M.O. for Creatures of the Wind this season, comprised of boxy jackets, tailored pants, kicky little skirts with inverted box pleats, and lots of leather. The inspirations ranged from fifties Teddy Boys to eighties post-modern furniture design collective the Memphis Group, whose influence showed perhaps most strongly in a brightly colored jacquard that bore a kind of broken-looking pattern. There were athletic touches, too, evident in stripes on the sleeve of a jacket, front zipper closures on several collared shirts, and contrasting white trim of a deep V-neck top. Backstage, label co-founder Chris Peters explained that he had set about exploring “artificiality and its appeal.” The thoughtful treatment of kitsch territory recalled, in tone if not in any specific design, Proenza Schouler’s Spring 2012 collection, which explored the mid-century genericism of Googie architecture. Another outstanding outing for these Chicago boys!

Fresh from the reality-TV trenches, menswear maestro John Varvatos is still getting used to people asking for his autograph. The Daily stopped by his boutique on the Bowery to find out how he’s keeping his cool.
BY EDDIE ROCHE

She’s covered every A-list glossy on the planet, fronted all the top brands, and logged more runway miles than a 747. Now Naomi Campbell is ready to give back to fashion as a mentor on The Face. Watch and learn, ladies! BY EDDIE ROCHE

Edun: On Thursday, Edun set up house at Skylight Studios to present their socially-conscious women’s line, and debut Edun homme with their new menswear designer Ricky Hendry, formerly of Calvin Klein Collection, Ralph Lauren, and Theory. As expected, co-founders Bono and wife Ali Hewson were on hand to fete the occasion off stage. On stage, Edun’s rock-chic coupling sported edgy ensembles comprised of printed plaid asymmetrical dresses, tops pierced with silver chains, and plenty of leather vests and downtown motos. “This debut season really captured Edun and the Edun man,” Hendry told The Daily post-show. “It was a combination of toughness and softness, strength and sensitivity.”