FIT Senior Fashion Show 2008: Sportswear

This was a fun show and had five whole categories of woman's clothing. So old school and entertaining. Each day this week I'll show a little selection; today is sportswear. Sorry, all of these FIT photos stink! I was right at the end of the runway and on top of the spotlights. But check out these impressive shapes and interesting styles. Favorite trends in this sportswear category were geometric cuts, layering, and great focus on the back (true for all of the show, which was full of stunning back details. Just like Fall 2008 collections!).

Designers & clothes, left to right, top and bottom rows: Busra Azizoglu, gorgeous layered back lapel detailing; Jaclyn Alvo, grey double layered shrug w/painted skirt; Victoria Spector, asymmetric zipper blouse w/silver tiered skirt; India Davis, magenta motorcycle jacket w/color block tunic; Margherita Paglia, cream satin print shirt over layered tops, leggings & skirt; Hye-Sook Han, khaki military dress & vinyl coat.



























My favorite is that magenta motorcycle jacket over the tunic and the Margherita Paglia. I adore that chic, city-ease look and her varied prints. Click here for more information on the show and some professional pictures!

Some Old Navy Dresses

Some of the girls, as promised:










They are organized unnatural to natural fibers. That first hot green mess is $34.50, and I couldn't resist. Please remember with most of these that you, the reader, most likely own a waist. I do not, so imagine how cute these girly concoctions would look a little cinched in. We won't discuss my upper arms, but let that back photo be a good reminder to my young friend "Laura" who wants to cover that particular area with tattoos. Ahem, at risk of sounding like your mother, in fifteen years you will SO regret it!

I digress. As stated yesterday, I'm not fond of the wrinkly rayon/acrylic dresses. But those first two were too bright and cheery to pass up. Again, there's that lovely orange, also $34.50. And the cotton dresses? So easy to buy. That grey, with the sexy back? The strapless empire-waist purple? The disco stripes? $24.50 and yes, yes, yes. The green ($29.50) I'm not so yes, but that's only because of my inexplicable aversion to back ties. This dress has the back ties, so I cannot get on board. But these Old Navy colors are dead on, right?

Old Navy, 150 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th

Old Navy Combos

It's true, I have been remiss in shopping Old Navy. It's an old, hanger-on prejudice now wiped clean away. Well, almost. Here are the pros:

• No item limits in the dressing room. If I want I can take the whole damn store in to try on;
• The lovely dressing room attendant didn't bat an eye as I piled the whole store on her table upon leaving, saying "sorry!" and her saying "no, don't worry!" Yes, this was 34th Street, New York City, not 34th Street, Des Moines Iowa;
• Old Navy is visually well organized, and 34th Street has two floors for women and a maternity section. A maternity kimono on sale was so cute I almost bought it;
• Pricing is recession proof, especially the discounted T-shirts (2nd flr, $7.99) and a tube top (sale price $4.99) that I spotted later on a girl at a 'wichcraft kiosk in Bryant Park.

And what would pros be without cons:

• Questionable cheap material on some cute dresses (but they are under $40);
• Sizing isn't great for me, which means it must be better for those under 5'10;
• PLEASE, Old Navy, upgrade your skirt hangers. Currently one needs the jaws of life to open every other one;
  
• Their bikini bottoms don't like my rear end. Pretty much run-of-the-mill for me and bikini bottoms, but one always hopes, and tries...

Let's go to the pictures. I apologize for the many fuzzy photos, but I was very itchy, sensitive and swollen thanks to a certain culinary establishment's "calamari." Trying on clothes was almost painful, and wrestling those skirt hangers open made my fingers swell. So the photography was a little compromised.

The black skirt ($29.50) with plain tank (2 for $15), with dotted, puff-sleeve cardigan ($24.50), and with slouchy ruffles ($14.50):

Same style, different color skirt. The grey shows off the wrinkles nicely, yes?! The taupe jacket ($39.50) paired with the black skirt would probably be better, but I was experimenting. I would also go down one size in the jacket:

The polka dot skirt ($29.50) with a silky soft grey T, and a bright T. You might want to go with a purple hue, but I love this Old Navy tangerine. Click on the bird's eye view and see what a winner this skirt is:

The shorts ($24.50). Why not, as they look cute with every top here (black $19.50 on sale, flower $24.50 & green, $22.50):

Tomorrow, Old Navy dresses to thrown on for hot summer weekends.


Old Navy, 150 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th

So Much To Do...

Fuel up, kids, because there's a lot of new shopping on 34th Street today. First up, the Gap Artist Editions T-shirts in celebration of the 2008 Whitney Biennial debut in stores:


I spotted these in The New Yorker, and have my eye on the Hanna Liden big bird (bottom right). And Stephanie Seymour in the Jeff Koons? Sexy. Looks like they are all $28.



Next, get thee to Footaction on 7th & 34th at 3pm for an old school, bad-ass celebrity sighting: the Rev Run will be dropping by to promote the release of the "Icon Sneaker." Ladies, I may have to stalk him a little because Run-DMC is, well, remember the video for "Walk this Way?" Aerosmith has never been so cool.

Last, Steve & Barry's Laird Hamilton Wonderwall collection, a surf and skate apparel line for men, debuts today. Everything is $9.98 or less. Not familiar with Laird Hamilton? Girls, he's the hot blond surfer dude married to Gabrielle Reece and famous for mastering those crazy, 70 ft. waves. Take a cue from Laird's collection and plan a guy-centric night at home for the man. Rent Riding Giants, a seminal surfing movie starring Laird, surprise your guy with a new pair of Wonderwall board shorts (above), and dress yourself down with SJP's Bitten loungewear (this should include boy shorts). Works every time.

Gap, 60 W. 34th at 6th Avenue
Footaction, 430 7th at 34th
Steve & Barry's, Manhattan Mall level 2, 33rd @ 6th

Gap's Got It Long

Two long dresses from Gap:

Kind of maxi, but really more prairie, and not quite there for me. Perhaps because that color washes me out? But as soon as I put it on I longed for a meadow filled with flowers, a sunny day, and the ability to teleport self to such meadow on said sunny day. With a picnic basket, Husband, and copious bottles of wine, ASAP. See, fashion is fantasy! And it can also keep you slender. This dress is long, it's swingy, and it's a little heavy. Just think of all the extra calories you'll burn through the day, particularly while romping through fantasy meadow.

The next dress is 3/4 maxi, and is European Collection. So of course I want it. And this one I really do want. I look better in the darker color and the length is kind of appealing. We could wear this to work with a jacket; I'm seeing a short white jacket.

And some miscellaneous Gap love. The linen wrap dress is $59.50 (again, not my color but great summer dress), the sun kissed wash yellow T is $24.50 (these happy shirts come in many truly sun kissed colors), and the red flower print shirt is on sale for $34.99.











Gap, 60 W. 34th at 6th Avenue

Roses are Punk Rock

Here's Foot Locker & Lady Foot Locker's newest hot kicks, Punk Rose ($54.99). Word has it they are flying off the shelves on 34th Street:










Ah, the love affair with punk and all things black. How I miss those trappings of youth! Maybe I'll go all nostalgic and get a pair of Punk Rose. I love the colors and how they've updated the classic punk rock look.

Or maybe I'll buy some major cool points with my goth/punk niece and buy her a pair. But don't get excited, kid. I'm no pushover; you've got to earn these with good grades.

Can you tell which ones I love?? Pink lightning bolts, way rad!

Lady Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

Good Gossip

After the FIT Senior fashion show I came home to my VCR and a taped Gossip Girl episode. More on the FIT show tomorrow; first impressions were more impressed than expected. But this was my first FIT show.

So yes, I blew the dust off an old VHS tape (no Tivo) and spent 20 minutes this morning trying to remember how to program the VCR. I'm sadly addicted; I don't even spend 20 minutes getting dressed unless I'm having one of those awful "I have NOTHING to wear days." And then 80% of that is wasted anguish time.

 

Here's the fashion that stuck with me:

Blair's Florence Nightengale/I'm a good friend/nuturing dress: So pretty on her, I loved the slim ribbon bow tie, the accentuated, slim waist. 

Blair's rehearsal dinner dress: Modest but sparkly, very B. But best was The Look she gave Chuck just before she told him she knew where G was. 

Serena's rehearsal dinner dress: Perfect, particularly with the necklace. 

Serena's guilt-walk-down-the-stairs dress: Which I loved with her hair pulled back all severe and repentant. Because it's B's dress, right? And she looked so adorable in a little B style! (Dan is a moron. We all knew she was lying.)

Chuck's red socks: Chuck is brilliant. 

Georgina's makup: Good god, take the eyeliner away from your makeup artist and throw it in the East River. We know you're evil already.

Some satisfying fashion tonight, but I'm really looking forward to the "wedding" gear next week. Oh, and by the way, who else was totally disappointed there was no B+Chuck=Kick Some Georgina Ass showdown?