New York Fashion Week kicked off with warm weather that led models to continue wearing summer dresses rather than fall coats. Many top designers like Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, and Zac Posen showed their collections at Lincoln Center or other venues, with Posen choosing a romantic balcony setting. Newcomers Noon by Noor debuted a colorful 70s-inspired line. Victoria Beckham's collection expanded into trousers and was a success. Fashion's Night Out encouraged shopping, and the week concluded with anticipated shows from Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren.

1. Fashion followers from all around the world hit
New York last week for the first of the four
major fashion weeks. Vying to show off their style
credentials in the latest autumn/winter trends, the
weather did not permit and instead the usual coats
and cosy knits of autumn took a back seat to the
last of the summer dresses and Miu Miu sunnies
that were the only thing to be seen in in the
scorching New York sun. The unexpected dose of
warm weather did, however, tie in nicely with the
light, airy, S/S13 collections that were mostly
debuted in a crowded Lincoln Center. Industry
veterans like Carolina Herrera and Monique
Lhuillier chose the usual platforms of the stage or
theatre for their runway shows, whereas some
designers like Zac Posen and DKNY chose
alternative locations to complement their
respective collections. Zac Posen, for example,
picked the romantically lit balcony of Avery
Fisher Hall at sunset to debut his unabashedly
feminine presentation of 50s-inspired dresses
where Naomi Campbell made a welcome
return to the runway. Donna Karan, on the
other hand, displayed a fun, loud DKNY
collection to a lively crowd that included her
current muse, Ashley Greene, in the front row.
The energetic show, packed full of sporty, no-
fuss separates, stayed true to the DKNY motto
in a show Donna herself said she created “for
the New York woman.”
Amidst industry greats Bahraini designers and
cousins Sheikha Noor Al Khalifa and Sheikha Haya
Al Khalifa showed their contemporary label, Noon
by Noor for the first time in the city. They were met
with applause from both fashion critics and
celebrities like Nicky Hilton and Olivia Palermo who
sat in the front row loyally decked out in the
designers’ resort collection. Debuting a colourful,
70s-inspired offering the 27-year-old designers
addedtouchesoftheirArabianaestheticthroughout
in the form of kaftan-inspired dresses and subtle
gold accents around the sleeves and collars.
38 HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
Industry veteran Monique Lhuillier
(above) chose the Lincoln Center to
show her fluid, water inspired collection
(top and left)
Zac Posen picked a romantically lit balcony at Avery Fisher Hall at sunset to display
his beautiful gowns with Naomi Campbell and Coco Rocha (right)
Street style stars Giovanna
Battaglia, Miroslava Duma,
Anna Dello Russo and Elena
Permova (inset left) seen
snapping together outside
the Prabal Gurung show
the style stars shine as
New York Fashion Week
sets the bar for S/S13
39HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
MONIQUELHUILLIER

2. 40 HELLO! MIDDLE EAST 41HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
Anna Wintour herself was present,
front row of course, at several big
names including Altuzarra and Oscar
de la Renta and viewed the new
season’s latest trends from behind her
trademark shades. In contrast to this
summer’s kaleidoscope of colour,
S/S13 is set to debut a softer palette,
with sheer fabrics dominating the
runways at BCBG and Victoria
Beckham in shades of taupe, grey and
black. Victoria, it seems, has gone from
strength to strength with her latest
collection showcasing an even wider
range of styles than usual with the
additions of trousers and jackets, all
beautifully tailored in her signature
minimalist style and paired with
custom-created Manolo Blahnik
Grecian sandals and brogues. The
former Spice Girl, who is known for
her stern demeanour, even managed a
sincere smile as she took a bow to
rapturous applause from the entire
audience including her loyal husband,
David who sat in the front row.
Othercelebritysightingsthroughout
the week included Kate Bosworth,
Natasha Bedingfield and Hailee
Steinfeld, most of whom were there
with their respective stylists ready to
pick out which red carpet gowns to
wear next, but also to take part in
Fashion’s Night Out. The evening,
created to help encourage shoppers to
start spending again after the recession,
has become a popular opener to
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with a
host of designers taking part,
p u t t i n g o n m i n i s h o w s ,
Queen of the New York scene Donna Karan post-show with Bianca
Jagger and actress Bernadette Peters (above). The collection by
newcomers Noon by Noor, designed by Bahraini cousins Sheika Noor Al
Khalifa and Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa was well received and viewed by
celebrities like Olivia Palermo and Nicky Hilton (below left)
The usually shy and reserved
Victoria Beckham beamed at the
finale of her show at the New
York Library, this season being a
huge hit with critics. Her
husband David and daughter
Harper (right) were there in
support, too. Meanwhile,
Alexander Wang's show saw
model Liberty Ross return to the
runway (below centre)
DONNAKARAN
NOONBYNOOR
VICTORIABECKHAM

3. PHOTOS:GETTYIMAGES.SPLASHNEWS
Deemed as a high point of each New York Fashion Week, Marc Jacobs’ show always
draws in a high profile crowd. This time the designer was seen cosying up to television
star Alexa Chung post-presentation (below)
Above : Newly engaged couple Kate Bosworth and
Michael Polish were also in attendance of the Altuzarra
S/S13 preview, whilst style set Miroslava Duma and
company were spotted being snapped outside (page 38)
42 HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
presentations and parties at
t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s t o r e s
throughout New York. One of
t h e m o s t u n e x p e c t e d
appearances this season was the
return of British model, Liberty
Ross to the runway. The
stunning brunette certainly
s h o w e d h e r r e p o r t e d l y
estranged husband, Rupert
Sanders what he was missing in
the wake of his very public affair,
strutting her stuff in Alexander
Wang’s striking, athletic-
inspired collection.
While the runways were the
unquestionable highlight of the
week, the drones of well-dressed
women in the form of bloggers,
journalists and off-duty models
meant that before each show a
mandatory shuffle around
c r o u c h i n g s t r e e t - s t y l e
photographers was the only way to
get to the entrance in time, with
popular stylists like Miroslava Duma
and Giovanna Battaglia being
swamped as soon as their taxis
pulled up to the entrance. Among
the token bizarrely-dressed
bloggers – and one questionable
man in a Betsy Johnson dress – the
signature New York look of
laidback-chic shone through with
distressed denim and tried-and-
tested top knots becoming the
uniform of the native crowd.
The week came to a close with
the much-anticipated Marc Jacobs,
Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren
shows which were all celebrated
with a good helping of after parties,
all of which set the standard for
what should be a very interesting
next few weeks in London,
Paris and Milan. H
Report: Samantha Hamilton-Rushforth
MARCJACOBS