Luxury Experience Magazine gives you the women's fashion scoop from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York with a preview of the Spring/Summer 2009 Collections from designers Max Azria, Tadashi Shoji, Valdemar Iódice, and Carlos Miele.

Max Azria for BCBGMAXAZRIA, Tadashi Shoji, Valdemar Iodice, and Carlos Miele are men that clearly know how to design for women. Their Spring/Summer 2009 collections are so feminine, elegant, and flirty that you will want to start spring cleaning early to make space in your closets.

Max Azria showed a collection of 37 looks for his BCBGMAXAZRIA brand. His color palette featured neutrals of canvas, dove grey, heather grey, taupe, white, charcoal, and black, and then ventured into bolder colors of wineberry, light mauve, blue, pearl blue, marine blue, navy, moss, orange, fuchsia, dark teal, prune, and purple.

The collection featured pleats, draped sleeves, and one shoulder looks of dresses, jumpsuits, pants, tanks, and gowns. A few of the many highlights of the collection included a vision in white of a Canvas crepe dress paired with white knit tank, white belt, and white leather platform shoes; Fuchsia crepe dress with orange patent leather clutch, and grey leather platform sandals; Black glossy featherweight vest with black micro-sheen jersey dress paired with black ankle boots; Dusty purple washed silk gown with black/grey belt and paired with black leather platform sandals; Dark purple voile jumpsuit paired with blue portfolio clutch and grey leather platform sandals; and Orange crepe dress with grey leather platform sandals.

BCBGMAXAXRIA Designs

As I was leaving the show, I ran into photographer, Nigel Barker, one of the judges on America's Next Top Model show, and asked him what it takes to become a model, as Fashion Week is always filled with capacity with aspiring model hopefuls. He replied, "Determination. Looks change, sizes changes, there are lots of agencies and lots of people who want to become models, so you have to be determined."

Tadashi Shoji showed an impressive 33 looks with a neutral color palette of alabaster white, ivory, dove grey, ombre, ultramarine, and kryptonite for his Spring/Summer 2009 collection of cocktail dresses, shift dresses, mini dresses, tank dresses, rompers, shorts, skirts, and gowns. One-shouldered looks, laser cuts, racer back tanks, strapless cocktail dresses and gowns, and embroidery featured prominently in the collection.

A few of the many highlights of the collection included an Ultramarine draped silk jersey strapless gown; Alabaster white beaded and embroidered tulle tank dress with ultramarine silk organza anorak; Ivory silk faille and silk organza sculpted mini shift dress; Kryptonite silk organza one-shoulder mini dress; Dove grey ombre silk jersey starburst draped cocktail dress; and Beaded silk tulle ¾ sleeve mini dress.

 
Tadashi Shoji Designs

The many VIPs in attendance at the show included Crystle Stewart crowned Miss America 2008 who looked stunning wearing a chocolate brown sculpted and belted Tadashi Shoji design.

Miss USA  Crystle Stewart and Edward F. Nesta

Brazilian designer Valdemar Iódice of Iódice showed a stunning collection of 40 looks that included halters, flowing caftans, dresses, gowns, one-shoulder looks, ¾ sleeves, pleated blouses, capes, shorts, flared pants, and bathing suits. Slinky, and sexy, his color palette was simple: black, white, turquoise, teal, and taupe that he used alone as well as in combinations to create his designs in sensuous fabrics including silk, and satin that caught the movement as the models walked the runway.

Valdemar Iódice Designs

A few of the highlights of the collection included a Black halter dress with stand up collar and deep plunging vee back; Black dress with ivory belt and ivory cape; ruffled collar halter blouse paired with black pants; and a strapless wrapped turquoise gown.

Valdemar Iódice Models

Designer Carlos Miele set the exciting tone for his show with music by Brazilian singer Seu Jorge who strolled the runway as he serenaded and flirted with the models as they walked by, bringing to my mind the lyrics of the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Vinécius de Moraes (English lyrics by Norman Gimbel) song, Girl from Ipanema ... "and when she passes, each one she passes goes a-a-ah..."

The clothes were gorgeous, colorful, sexy, and feminine, for which Brazilian design is famous. Carlos Miele presented a collection of 31 inspired looks for Spring/Summer 2009 with a color palette of neutrals in sand, chantilly, light gold, off-white, black, and navy blue, and then added a bit of spiciness with aqua, red, raspberry, and royal blue. Fabrics in the collection were silk, satin, silk chiffon, silk organza, and silk crepe which moved with an inherent sensuous.

The details of the collection are what really caught my eye including black stone embroidery on several of the items in the collection, guipure lace, navy blue belt with sodalite stone appliqué, and opal stone appliqué belt. The collection featured an assortment of gowns, asymmetric looks, shirts paired with cropped pants, blouses, boleros, and a variety of dresses.

A few of the highlights of the collection included his Aqua silk chiffon gown with Brazilian stone neckline embroidery paired with nude leather high heel sandal; Raspberry silk chiffon dress with embroidered bust; paired with a black python leather clutch and black leather high heel sandal; Rainforest print silk chiffon and satin mini dress paired with black leather high heel sandal and 18K yellow gold bracelet with aquamarine, topaz, and periodot; Flower shadow print silk chiffon gown with black stone neckline embroidery paired with black leather high heel sandal; Red silk satin chiffon and organza strapless gown with black guipure lace detail paired with black leather high heel sandal; Raspberry silk satin and chiffon dress with ruffled detail paired with black leather high heel sandal; and Light gold silk chiffon gown with embroidered sash paired with nude leather high heel sandal and 18K pink gold bracelet with lavender amethyst.

Seu Jorge Signing to Carlos Miele Models

After the Carlos Miele fashion show, sponsor Sagatiba Cachaça kept the Brazilian atmosphere going at Espasso with special cachaça cocktails for the evening as Seu Jorge sang while Edward F. Nesta and I along with other invited guests danced and mingled the night away.

Lilia, Teddy, Debra, and Jamie at Carlos Miele Party

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!

Edward and Seu Jorge

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.

© November 2008. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.