Cognac’s Corner Coverage of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is New York City's largest fashon media event.  The famous event takes place twice a year during late winter in February and September at Lincoln Center.   The event provides top fashion designers an international platform to showcase their collections to over 100,000 industry insiders from around the globe, including buyers, editors, retailers, celebrities and VIPs.  The event features more than 80 designer shows in one week.  it is known as the premier event worldwide where style, beauty, supermodels, and celebrities come together to celebrate the best in the fashion world.

Below are my top favorites from the week:

Charlotte Ronson

Charlotte Ronson Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cognacscorner

This year Charlotte Ronson's inspiration for Spring 2014 is the  French Mademoiselle  in the cosmopolitan cities of Paris, Rome, London and New York.

Her collection represented Parisian chic with a playful twist on today's modern young ingenue. Special pieces included the black-and-white asymmetric short dress with a Peter Pan collar, an eyelet jumpsuit with sheer peekaboo details, a blue-and-green floral print, a spirited crop top, and Ronson counterbalanced those pieces with a print featuring white cherries on a black background.

The white leather ensemble Charlotte Ronson decided to wear  zipped apart completely at the midriff, leaving a standalone top. Celebrities that attended included Paris and Nicky Hilton, Recording Artist Ariana DiLorenzo and Model Devyn Abdullah who is  is the first winner of "The Face," Naomi Campbell's modeling reality show on the Oxygen Network.

Joanna Mastroianni
Cognac interviews Joanna Mastroianni at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
September 16, 2013 10:18 AM

Joanna Mastroianni set the mood with graphic black-and-white pieces that looked fresh and modern. The highlight of the Spring 2014 Collection was a white silk satin T-shirt dress with a black hem and full-length zipper.

Fabulous textures, luxury fabrics, embroideries, mosaic- like patterns and leather pieces were important statements of the collection.   Inspiration from European countries showcasing  feminine curves, architectural shapes for today's women who wants to embrace a more flirtatious way of dressing!

Other influences included Asian culture.  Models walked the runway with beautiful silk printed pieces with floral patterns of orchards, cherry blossoms, and apple blossoms.

Her Spring 2014 Collection ran the gamut of everything from 1960's retro frocks with sharp edges, to glamorous gowns and kimono-inspired dresses.
Nicole Miller
Cognac Mercedes Benz Nicole Miller Inrerview

Nicole Miller Spring 2014 Collection was inspired by the Palace and gardens of Versailles. Chandeliers and shattered mirrors were all important features when creating the collection.

The designer's creativity with  florals included a faded pattern on a leather moto jacket which she presented with a T-shirt in a filigree motif, and a skirt in bold black-and-white stripes that were displayed with sweet flower buds. Other interesting mixable prints included a draped dress that collaborated  five patterns that interestingly did not clash.

Nicole also incorporated edgier pieces including a distressed jacquard pants that were slashed throughout. Miller also showcased strong graphic touches with beads and sequins  with a glass shard pattern that featured a  "kaleidoscope" pattern.

Malan Breton

Malan Breton Spring 2014 Collection showed in the Box at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  His Spring collection was inspired by  decadent Victorian age meets 1920s Gatsby theme, with male and female models styled in crushed satin, lots of tulle, bright colored suits and a burst of royal metallics.

The frocks were accentuated with the taste of feminity and the traditional "Old Hollywood" appeal which seems to be prevalent in his collections since he is vintage movie fan.  Monroe makeup and hairstyles were featured on the female models. While the embroiled metallic thread added a little twist to the pink jacket, giving it a noble and dreamy style.

His Spring 2014 collection combined textures and patterns of different pieces.  Hues and colors became brighter and bolder creating the look of nobility. One defining detail of the collection was the use of the Eastern inspired patterns.

When designing his pieces, Malan's technique of using bold colors on his textured silks was emphasized under certain lighting reflecting its shine and exotic appeal.

I also had the opportunity to interview Edwin Rivera from Reel Code Media who sponsored Malan Breton's Spring 2014 Collection in the Tents.

Zang Toi
Cognac interviews Zang Toi at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Zang Toi Spring 2014 Collection was inspired by the ballet.  Zang Toi's evening pieces offered the spectacular glamour he does so well.  My preferred pieces was his black silk gazar tunic and trousers embellished with silver sequins.

His short fluffy skirts and red carpet full-skirted gowns floated down the runway with delicate ruffles and trains trailing behind.

Although the collection was for Spring, the hues were mostly dark with a pop of pink including a matching bubble-gum pink cashmere dress coat ensemble and a ballet pink full skirted ballerina dress with spring blossoms.  The gowns were elegant with beautiful details such as floral appliqué and tulle lining.

Capes, evening gowns and billowing trains were prevalent throughout the show. His models dramatically demonstrated the movement in the garments by constantly twirling flirtatiously throughout the show.
Zang Toi's Spring 2014 collection was divine, glamorous filled with detail and well-constructed garments.

Custo Barcelona
Cognac interviews Custo Barcelona at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Custo Barcelona Spring 2014 Collection featured tribal motif prints and embroideries throughout the line from outerwear to swimwear.  His extensive collection, one of the longest shows, included pairing two or three textures. The change was beneficial. For example, a sheer white blouse with sweet broderie anglaise accents was shown with a pair of long culottes, the front of which were done in a red and white Aztec embroidery, the back of which were printed with a black and white hieroglyphics motif.

My favorite look was a shimmering rose-gold blouse embroidered with neon raffia at the shoulders and worn with a metallic jacquard short.

Designer Custo Dalmau recognizes the importance of selling his brand so emphasis was put on a more homogenize collection appealing to a global consumer who is clued in to current fashions.

Helen Yarmak
Cognac interviews Helen Yarmak at NY Fashion Week

Helen Yarmak Spring 2014 was presented with fun and infusing bright colors such as hot pink and orange hues. With all the latest technology the furs are extremely lightweight.  Fabulous furs were featured on Mother daughter duo Pat and Anna Cleveland.  My favorite pieces included sheared lamb in capes, boleros and short-sleeve jackets styled by Pat Field for an overall "Rock N Roll" appeal.

Helen's collection incorporated sensational patterns and hues for excitement such as checkerboard, stripes, and color blocking.  Traditional furs included mink, fox, lamb, and ermine.

I had a chance to chat with Actress Vanessa Williams during the presentation who was introduced to Helen by Costume Designer and Stylist Patricia Field.  "I am here because Pat Field introduced me to Helen while I was play Willemina Slater so as the character I wore tons of fur so Helen was our go-to gal," revealed Ms. Williams.

Other favorite pieces included a pink camo fox jacket worn with fishnet babydolls and plush sable hoodies  worn with graffiti print track pants for the perfect hi-low combo.

I also wore a beautiful Helen Yarmak white fox inspired ermine jacket to the event to showcase how glamorous and lightweight her furs really are!

For more information about Mercedes Benz Fashion Week please visit http://www.mbfashionweek.com/