CARYN FONBERG
director of shows for Fashion at the Park and associate producer at Tuleh and Oscar de la Renta at New York Fashion Week
“I was so surprised with Tuleh. The designer, Bryan Bradley, has added clean lines and unexpected prints to the collection. I really think we are missing Tuleh in the Dallas market. Carolina Herrera is always one of my favorites. It was breathtaking. Oscar de la Renta is always classic and beautiful, very Jackie O. inspired. It was such a privilege to be a part of something like this. My dream, as a little girl growing up in South Africa, was always to do what I did during Fashion Week. I really feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.”
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| photography courtesy of Neiman Marcus |
KEN DOWNING
fashion director, Neiman Marcus
“I loved the animal prints at Zac Posen. And the lurex short cocktail dress—just right for the girls in Dallas.”
ELIZABETH O’MAHONY
owner and buyer, V.O.D.
Attended: Alexander Wang, Camilla Staerk, Elise Overland, Zero Maria Cornejo, and Jeremy Laing. “We thought Zero looked the best and liked a lot of pieces from Elise Overland. We definitely loved the trouser for the season. The color palette was great—lots of watercolor hues, watered-down greens, blues, and putty grays. Leather was huge. We loved the leather leggings and the perforated leather shrugs at Zero. Dresses are all about length now, which we think is a chic and sophisticated look. We have invested in floral prints, one-piece jumpsuits, and plaids. We also picked up Kimberly Ovitz and Organic by John Patrick for spring.”
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| photography Paul Wilmost Communications |
TINA CRAIG
owner and founder, Bag Snob
“Fuchsia and lime-green crocodile totes by Nancy Gonzalez are a must-have come spring.”
SUSAN LANA
women’s buyer, Stanley Korshak
“The young American market looked really strong. It was so great to see vibrant color and design from a fresh perspective. The American market has not looked this good since the late 1990s. We have a good crop of new American designers who are putting out mature collections. Chris Benz was fantastic, and I love the walking shorts and skirts throughout the collection. He will be added to our mix at SK for spring 2009.”
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| photography courtesy of Getty Images |
JACKIE MILLER STEWART
president of Henry S. Miller Interests Inc., which manages Highland Park Village
Attended: Carolina Herrera, Luca Luca, Ports 1961, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Vera Wang, Naeem Khan, and Ralph Lauren. “As always, Ms. Herrera’s collection was elegant, wearable, and ultra-feminine. I especially appreciated the more whimsical pieces, as they were unexpected and showcased her unparalleled attention to detail. I loved the color palette at Ralph Lauren. The Moroccan light fixture set the tone for the show. You expected exciting and exotic and were not disappointed.”
NINA KNELL
women’s buyer, LFT
Favorites: Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ruffian, Rachel Roy, Sari Gueron, and Jason Wu. “Donna did what she knows best: draping. Her collection, as she calls it, was ‘bathrobe chic.’ I couldn’t imagine anything more comfortable and easy. You can’t forget the jumpsuit for spring, and Donna Karan’s was the best. [Ruffian’s] Brian and Claude had a softer feel for spring. They did an amazing combination of fabrics and color within the collection. Jason Wu used lots of color, fuchsia, violet, red, and yellow. It really made the collection feel flirty and whimsical. It was a beautiful combination of clothes for the uptown and downtown girl.” New for LFT this spring: Donna Karan, Rachel Roy, Zac Posen handbags, and Nicholas Kirkwood for Pollini shoes
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| photography courtesy of Zero Maria Cornejo |
STEPHANIE ROBERTS
Dallas shopper
Attended: Alexander Wang, Zero Maria Cornejo, and Carolina Herrera. “I loved everything about Alexander Wang’s show. When the lights dimmed and the music blared, I was on the edge of my seat with excitement. Watching Erin Wasson on the front row groove to the music just added to the energy. I went to Alexander Wang’s after-party. It was full of beautiful people, great music, including live entertainment by female rapper Foxy Brown. As far as spring fashion is concerned, I’m happy to know that anything goes. Short shorts, long dresses, skinny cropped pants, unique tops, and awesome accessories. Lots of great color—more solids rather than print. ”
