This year was the first time I attended
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week which kicked off with Fashion's Night Out events all over Manhattan and the world. For someone who loves fashion like myself attending the week long event, which showcased the spring lines of more than 80 designers, was beyond anything I could imagine.
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Ryan Lochte during Guys' Night Out at the Ainsworth Park. (Photo: Roxanne Diaz, Paige Hospitality Group) |
With so many Fashions' Night Out options decided where to go was a hard decision. I stopped by
Paige Hospitality Group's
Ainsworth Park in NYC where Olympic Gold Medalist
Ryan Lochte hosted their "Guys Fashion's Night Out" event showing off his fashionable side. Guests sipped on
Wodka Vodka signature cocktails, re-energized with
Spot On energy patches and escaped the fashion frenzy outside.
Other highlights included
AnnaSophia Robb, Star of the
CW's upcoming new series, "The Carrie Diaries," hosted the Fekkai Mademoiselle Fashion's Night Out celebration at the
Frederic Fekkai Fifth Avenue salon at
Henri Bendel. BlackBook Magazine and
Oxygen Media partnered to host an exclusive VIP party at Bagatelle New York celebrating fashion and the network's upcoming new series "Hollywood Unzipped: Stylist Wars" and "The Face" Oxygen's "Hollywood Unzipped: Stylist Wars" Taylor Jacobson and Brett Alan Nelson, cast members from "The Face,"
Karolina Kurkova,
Coco Rocha and
Nigel Barker and "Girlfriend Confidential: New York."
W Hotels in New York teamed up with Rent the Runway, to bring the website's virtual closets offline and into the Living Rooms of W Union Square, W
Times Square, W New York and W Downtown. Each closet was curated by Rent the Runway's Fashion Director,
Lucy Sykes, who assisted those seeking to create the ultimate wardrobe for the city's most stylish week.
The
Empire Hotel was the place to be, hosting many gifting suites and Spring collection previews. Previews at the Empire Hotel included Tsemaye Binitie Spring/Summer 2013 Preview,
Style Coalition Influencer Lounge, Yanic Aimč Spring 2013 Collection Launch, Monica Byrne's Spring 2013 Collection Preview,
SPANX by Sara Blakely Spring 2013 Preview, Isa Tapia 2013 Spring/Summer Collection Preview and the Küning Fashion Presentation which was attended by
Olivia Palermo. The Küning's Fashion Presentation transported fashions elite into a modern take of a 1920's Great Gatsby Garden party where guests enjoyed a dance number and
Prohibition Bakery's, alcoholic cupcakes.
I was in
Chanel heaven at Luxury consignment service, eDrop-Off Chanel suite which showcased over 250 pieces of vintage Chanel at the Empire Hotel. The exclusive curated collection included the best of handbags, clothing and accessories dating from 1995 to 2002.
Kristin Chenowith stopped by the Allure Lounge in the Empire Hotel where guest could get touch ups by
Maybelline New York, hair styling by
Ricardo Rojas Salon, skin consultations by SkinMedica, hand treatments from Bioxidea, a look at the latest fashions from designers Stop Staring, Sail to Sable, Renzo +
Kai, and Da-Sein and drinks from
Diet Coke and the delicious new Te Qava Tequila.
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The Catherine Malandrino Spring 2013 Presentation. |
Another celeb favorite was the GBK New York Fashion Week Gift Lounge where
Kiss and Broadway Nails offered fashion-forward nail creations. Celebs Kartina Bowden,
June Ambrose, Nasim Pedrad and
Sherri Shepherd stopped by to try the nail creations. Guests at the GBK lounge also stopped by Pilot Pen's "Inspiration Station" where they struck a pose with a pilot pen maxi skirt inspired by creative expression and crafted out of 500 Pilot FriXion pens, checked out Tweezerman's designer collaboration with
Cynthia Rowley, stopped by G Wear for unique recycled fashion shirts, learned about Baan Unrak Conscious Collection for SUK pants, hand woven pants by Thai locals and mothers of Baan Unrak,and learned about Beyond the Rack, North America's premier online shopping club.
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Venexiana featured beautiful gowns. |
The The Clarins Beauty Flash Lounge was the perfect place for some pampering including a message, facial or make-up touch up. At the Kick of Your Heels and Get Glam Fashion Week Lounge guests including
Megan Hilty,
Jamie Chung,
Natasha Bedingfield, AnnaSophia Robb, Mercedes Masohn,
Christian Siriano,
Kelly Bensimon, Lorena Garcia and Carrie Keagan previewed the fabulous fall line from
Stella & Dot, found the right foundation from Bare Minerals and swapped stilettos for Sanuk shoes, found footwear solutions with Foot Petals reflexology and rocked out with Boomphones.
Many celebrities sat front row to take in the spring lines. Charolette Ronson was a hot ticket attended by
Rachel Zoe,
Paris Hilton, AnnaSophia Robb, Cory Kennedy, and
Kimora Lee.
Kris Humphries,
Kellan Lutz, and
Chris Bosh were spotted at the
Lacoste show.
Rose Byrne and
Brooke Shields sat front row at
Jill Stewart while Odette Annable and
Padma Lakshmi attended the Monique Lhuiller show which showcased gorgeous embellished gowns. The
Zang Toi front row was filled with "Real Housewives of New York" stars including Ramona and Avery Singer, Sonja Tremont Morgan,
Alex McCord and
Simon Van Kempen.
Ivanka Trump along with former "
Dancing With The Stars" partners
Kirstie Alley and Max Chmerkovskiy were also at the show which featured crystal detailed gowns in pastel colors.
The Style360 Fashion Week shows were attended by many notable names. "Jersey Shore's" Ronnie Magro and "Empire Girls" stars
Adrienne Bailon and
Julissa Bermudez sat front row at TV personality Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola launch for her debut fitness line in conjunction with SXE Fitness. Kylie Jenner walked the runway for
Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn Spring 2013 Collection.
Many Real Housewives stars came out to support the preview party for Gretchen Christine Pink and 2013 Collections by "Real Housewife of OC" star Gretchen Rossi. The preview party was attended by "Real Housewife of OC" star Slade Smiley, "
Real Housewife of New Jersey" stars Melissa Gorga, Richie and
Kathy Wakile, and "Real Housewife of New York" stars
Ramona Singer, Countess Luann,
Sonja Morgan, Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen.
For all the work that goes into designing and creating the flawless fashion, Fashion Week flies by in the blink of an eye.
Nicole is the Editor-in-Chief of Hamptons.com where she focuses on lifestyle, nightlife, and mixology. She grew up in the Hamptons and currently resides in Water Mill.
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NicoleBarylski
NicoleBarylski