MBFW Day 3: Prints, Cuts, Straps and a Fire Flower

HEAD’S UP: Continuing the approach we adopted commencing with the Fall 2012 edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, VEVLYN'S PEN will put emphasis on the truly inspirational on the runway, rather than a sort of “best of the lot, even if it’s not that good.” Why the change? Simply put, we have grown weary of watching far too many collections that lack imagination because too much attention has been paid to the bottomline. If nothing inspires, we will tell you so and tell you why. We still endeavor, however, to provide a roundup of the best, worst and most interesting Yours Truly (and others) witnesses, from trends to sightings to the rather unusual/bizarre.

Day 3
(SOME of the players at the tents and elsewhere): Ruffian, Marissa Webb, Lacoste, Jill Stuart, Son Jung Wan, Mm6 Maison Martin, Margiela, Edun, Nina Skarra, Mara Hoffman, Marlon Gobel, Rafael Cennamo, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Katya Leonovich, Vlov - Qingqing Wu, Monique Lhuillier, Ostwald Helgason, Altuzarra, Venexiana, Christopher Esber, E L L E R Y, Alexander Wang, Mason Sylvester

WHERE to start? What a day was Day 3 of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

The day played host to many really strong shows. Jill Stuart showed the femme fatale that lurks underneath what had heretofore been a proper exterior. Her reference is Kim Basinger's Lynn Bracken in "L.A. Confidential." She nails it. A case in point is the silk beige dress with a shawl-like shoulder that ties high on the waist and is cut low at the bodice. Underneath is a silver-sequinned bra. Several dresses are made from upstanding fabric but have loose cuts and that doesn’t mean loose-fitting. Here is a very naughty girl but ultimately a nice girl.

For Spring-Summer 2013, Jill Stuart has a different sort of woman on the brain. Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Monique Lhuillier’s girl is a nice girl, too. In fact, she's probably a mermaid. For Spring 2013, the designer is inspired by water and the creatures within. Birds also figure in the mix. Many cocktail dresses, gowns, blouses and pants are done in prints that resemble fish scales. Some ensembles bear prints that strongly suggest a fish tank. To conjure up the sea only, MH often relies on color. The blouse with kimono sleeves and laser-cut leather and jacquard shorts are rendered, respectively, in midnight blue (or is that blue-black) and a sort of dark electric blue, mimicking the way water looks at night and at its deeper points.

Over at Alexander Wang it is not difficult to imagine that he may be channeling plastic surgery or films that explore plastic surgery such as Antonio Banderas’ “The Skin I Live In.” With impressive precision he uses cutouts to create geometric and other interesting shapes. It’s both sleek and artistic. Often the effect is the look of various prints. Consider the black top with v-shaped cutouts on the bodice and straight cut-outs on the sleeves. It is paired with a skirt that has wave-shaped cut-outs. Sandals provide a nice finish to the look. (See video above)

Much more to say and too little time to say it in … More shortly, meanwhile enjoy the pictures below from Day 3.

On Deck today, Day 4: Bespoken, Lela Rose, Tracy Reese, Erickson Beamon, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Carmen Marc Valvo, Y-3, Timo Weiland, Zang Toi, Zac Posen, David Tlale, Chado Ralph Rucci, Emerson, DKNY, Designer’s Collective, Edwing D'Angelo, Anna Francesca, Blanc de Chine

Visit http://www.mbfashionweek.com to learn more about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, including show information and videos.

Day 3 Pictorial
Venexiana
Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Son Jung Wan
Photos by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.

Marlon Gobel
Photos by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.

Rafael Cennamo
Photos by Craig Barritt/Getty Images.

Katya Leonovich
Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria
Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Day 3 NYFW: Better Days Ahead and Good Evenings

The Venexiana Spring 2012 collection of evening wear is large and lovely.

HEAD’S UP: I repeat, it is officially a tradition at VEVLYN’S PEN. The plan each day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is to give a roundup of the best (and worse where applicable) and most interesting Yours Truly witnesses, from shows to trends to sightings to the rather unusual/bizarre. It should go without saying, but it shan’t – this won’t be a comprehensive list simply because a body can’t be everywhere. But, of course, depend on one’s best effort. Drum roll, please …

Day 3
(SOME of the players at the tents and elsewhere: ADAM, Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Charlotte Ronson, Christian Siriano, Duro Olowu, Erin Fetherston, Eva Minge, Farah Angsana, Graeme Armour, Gregory Parkinson, Helmut Lang, Honor, Jill Stuart, Lacoste, Libertine, Lyn Devon, Monique Lhuillier, Pink Tartan, Rafael Cennamo, Son Jung Wan, Prabal Gurung, Ruffian, Venexiana, Vivienne Tam, VPL

IT seems to be on the same trajectory of a fine wine.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York Spring 2012 is getting better with age. Day 3 is the best so far. As with Day 2, the committee is intensely discussing who merits “best overall show,” or say, “best interpretation” of a vision.” It is not difficult to imagine that Vivienne Tam will figure in the talks for her insightful meditations on a Chinese garden. One contender for the latter award is Alexander Wang who infused the NASCAR vibe into some cool street and club clothes. He is not the only one inspired by sports. There is Nicole Miller, a contender for Day 2 “best overall show” (http:/www./bit.ly/n5Qys5) for her exploration of wheels, while Altuzarra may have on the brain any number of sports – sky-diving, piloting, track&field; perhaps NASCAR, too. Leading indicators suggest that a trend is emerging.

While these are questions yet to be settled, there is consensus that an HONORABLE MENTION be awarded to Venexiana for evening wear. Somehow, designer Kati Stern makes it look fresh every season. She opened with a trio of gown from the red family: pink, fuchsia and Bordeaux. One is adorned with Swarovski crystals, two others have embroidery. All are gorgeous.

Vivienne Tam for Spring 2012 is evocative of a garden. Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

In a collection of 71 – yes 71 – gowns and dresses, KS commanded the attention with good fabrics, great colors and impeccable work with folds, beading and embroidery. A bronze tulle evening gown is embroidered into a spiderweb design with beading and Swarovski crystals. Any number of the pieces have such inventive detailing in a collection that has only a paucity of hiccups.

The Swarovski detail on the front of a red strapless gown suggests that the “overflow” is a baby bump. Likewise, a voluminous pleated ruffled gown wants shearing. Most at Venexiana, however, is smashing, in the spirit of the self-possessed bone/gold chiffon one-shoulder embroidered gown with a cut-out on the shoulder … More from Day 3 shortly.

On deck today, Day 4: Katya Leonovich, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, L.A.M.B., Diane von Furstenberg, Jen Kao, Y-3, Guishem, Custo Barcelona, Tommy Hilfiger, Timo Weiland

Visit http://www.mbfashionweek.com/ and http://