Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC Thursday September 6, 2012

Day one was a mixture of casual styles and a lot of black, cream and yellow, with touches of sea blue and red. But the mood for Spring 2013 seems to be one of “don’t worry, be happy.” Clothes so far appear to be uncomplicated, casual, unfussy, and easy to wear.  If there are any surprises, it seems to be (so far) in the accessories.  Strange hats, wedges with wierdly shaped heels, not too much in the way of beads, belts, and bags (but this is only the first day).  Hair is also similarly uncluttered and unfussy, buns and ponytails made sleek and simple. Makeup is (not surprisingly) also pale and natural.

So far there really haven’t been too many stand-outs. The impression is that, given the economy, frills and over-the-top beading or patterns, or showing too much skin, won’t sell. And, in the end, designers want people to buy and wear their clothes.

Here are some highlights.

Tadashi featured long and short dresses made of intricate but substantial, lace.

Tadashi Shoji’s concept was “a modern silk road where East Meets West.” Showed lots of short and long dresses featuring intricate cutwork and lace, in a range of colors such as paprika, desert bloom, ocean mist, pale iris, China blue, and black. There were also a few long, printed flowing dresses that looked perfect for resort wear. At the very end of the show, there were a few of the kind of gowns we’ve come to expect, with intricate draping, lots of chiffon, and tiers of fabric (or very little in places) that make for red carpet drama.

a cape-like swing jacket with bold beading makes a nice statement piece over golden cropped leggings from Chadwick Bell

The sound track for Chadwick Bell’s austere but elegant show was sounds of “ha, ha, ha, ha” peppered with a one way conversation with an anxious mother.  Visor-like “hats” with veils added a mysterious allure. Austerity and adornment are juxtaposed for Spring 2013. The vastness of the desert, adobe structures, and the bold shapes of the Southwest were the inspiration.

yellow and ivory, plus black, are the front runners for the colors of the season. At Kaelen the clothing featured plenty of ivory, with black and yellow

This collection is simply a symphony of ivory with black, and yellow. But the individual items would make a special addition to any chic woman’s spring wardrobe.

Richard Chai creates a flirty pariing of a  golden yellow mini with a top reminiscent of sports bras