For Fall and Winter 2009, look for elegant and glamorous eveningwear as shown by Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2009, Venexiana, and Badgley Mischka during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2009 opened the Fall Winter 2009 Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week on February 13, 2009, and what a show it was. The Red Dress was created in 2002 as a symbol to warn women of heart disease and how to lower their risk, and since February 2003 has been a favorite runway showstopper pairing celebrities with clothes created by famous designers that are later auctioned off to benefit the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Host Tim Gunn introduced the collection with "Ladies, this show is for you - a special Valentine."

Heart Truth's Show

Celebrities walking the runway included Amanda Bynes in Daniel Swarovski; Jennie Garth in Badgley Mischka; Tori Spelling in Betsey Johnson; Vivica A. Fox in Jenny Packham; Lynda Carter in Carolina Herrera; Daisy Fuentes in Pamella Roland; Kristi Yamaguchi in Vera Wang; Natasha Henstridge in Verrier; Nia Long in Tracy Reese; Brittany Snow in Marchesa; Nastia Liukin in Max Azria; Valerie Bertinelli in Christian Siriano; Amanda Beard in Cushnie et Ochs; Patricia Arquette in Nicole Miller; Samantha Harris in David Meister; Cicely Tyson in B. Michael; Jane Kaczmarek in Michael Kors; Susan Lucci in Gustavo Cadile; Hillary Duff in Donna Karan; and Katie Courac in Carmen Marc Valvo.

 
         Susan Lucci                Patricia Arquette

Strutting their stuff on the red carpet in a stunning collection of gowns and cocktail dresses to music that included "My Funny Valentine" and "When You're Good to Mama, Mama's Good to You," the celebrities connected with the audience who were wearing a sea of red and Red Dress pins. Although all of the designs were gorgeous, two of the showstoppers included Cicely Tyson, who literally stole the show as she sashayed her way down the runway in a stunning red gown with balloon sleeves proving that women can still be sexy and flirtatious at any age; and Valerie Bertinelli, who when she saw the back of her gown in the overhead image, playfully turned her head over her shoulder and smiled at the audience to a round of catcalls from the audience.

Kati Stern, the talented designer behind the Venexiana label, has been high on my radarscope as a designer who consistently produces elegant clothing season after season that women want to wear, however with 66 looks in her Fall Winter 2009 collection, this may have been her most ambitious, and most glamorous collection ever.

Kati Stern

Incorporating furs, python, sequins, beading, lace, and Swarovski crystals, the collection has an all-out glamour appeal. Although there was the requisite black, lavender, rose, champagne, plum, grey, gold, silver, and metallic bronze also figured into her color palette. Fabrics were lush and sensual, featuring chiffon, silk, tulle, velvet, organza, silk wool, and lame, with lots of lovely little details for added appeal not only on the front but on the back of the designs as well.

A few of the many highlights included a Silky Karakui jacket and skirt decorated with Blue Iris Mink that was the opening of the collection; Python Skin and Norwegian Silver Fox Jacket with Python Skin Long Skirt; Plum Evening Gown with Ruffle Back Detail; Black Sequin Gown with Swarovski Detail: Black Velvet Evening Gown with Tulle and Gold Sequin Train; and the stunning grand finale - a Lyone Lace Beaded and Swarovski Encrusted Wedding Gown with Tulle Detachable Train, her first couture bridal gown.

Designs by Kati Stern of Venexiana

Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka of the Badgley Mischka label presented 33 gorgeous looks for their Fall Winter 2009 collection that featured a color palette of black, jet, absinthe, smoke, ultramarine, platinum, silver, bronze, chocolate, ruby, crimson, bordeaux, gold, and mauve, which incorporated velvet, chiffon, satin, organza, lamé, and tulle fabrics in their elegant dresses, jackets, coats, and gowns.

Mark Badgley and James Mischka 

Exciting details are the hallmark of this celebrated design team, and a few of the many highlights of the collection included an asymmetrical Ruby Satin Dress with biased draping on the bodice and embellishments that ran from the shoulder to the elbow; Black Tulle and Platinum Lamé Gown with embellished scoop neckline; Ultramarine one shoulder Satin Gown; Silver Galaxy Chiffon Gown; and Smoke Matte Satin and Tulle Dress.

Badgley Mischka Designs

As always, remember, that when it comes to fashion, it is not only about what you wear, it is also how you wear it! Know your own style and have a fashionable season!

For information on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York or other Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week International shows, please visit the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website at: www.MBFashionWeek.com.

© April 2009. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.