Sometimes the best things to see at fashion week aren't the various trends and colours and new things that you have to buy, or new things that you don't have the money to buy. Sometimes it's just noticing little details, like a new way to carry the shoulder bag you already have in your closet. At Burberry and Proenza Schouler, shoulder straps were purposefully created yet even more purposefully ignored, carried as clutches with the straps loosely bundled in the hand.

Details at Thakoon. Gold python is just... YWARRRRR. And love anything that's essentially just some variation on a white button-down.

More after the cut

It took me something like a month to zip through some 100-plus episodes or five seasons of How I Met Your Mother. And if there's one fashion voice to heed in that show (certainly not Robin's), it's Barney Stinson's, he who loves the salary-man look. Is it his favourite one-liner call-to-arms, "Suit Up!", that infiltrated the inspiration boards at Christopher Kane and Proenza Schouler for Spring Fashion Week 2011? Or have I been irrevocably affected by HIMYM-itis? Most likely the latter, but I like to think it's the former.

Either way, both of these arguably more urban, street brands have gone a little bit prim 'n proper, but not without their subversive elements. Like with a colour palette of neon green and yellow. Or a suit jacket that's shaped more like a cardigan, and a bra top under a boxy-fit blazer. And as separates, these integrate perfectly into a gal's wardrobe too.

So I'm mucho behind-o on whatever is going on in the various fashion weeks but thankfully I am back in the land of free wifi, so I've started to make a dent on New York's offerings. But anyway, point is, we've been layering shirts and jackets and vests for years; we even did that whole dress or skirt over pants or leggings thing for quite some time. But this, ladies and gentlemen, is a revelation. Skirts on top of skirts on top of... skirts. It's like a big same-sex orgy, except instead of guys on top of sweaty other guys or a T&A festival, it's glorious, frivolous, kinky skirts.

We're delighted to welcome nycMrGeek as our New York correspondent and guest blogger to Hong Kong Fashion Geek. He's a recent transplant to the NYC fashion scene from Hong Kong and for NYFW SS11, he'll be bringing us exclusive access to the preparation, the parties and of course the shows. Contact him at nycMrGeek@hkfashiongeek.com

Greetings from NYC. This is my first post here in Hong Kong Fashion Geek. This is nycMrGeek, I am here to bring you to see the New York lifestyle through my geeky glasses.

First report from the midst of fashion week madness – I must say, the entire New York city has switched on after the lazy Labour Day weekend. People shifted from the laid-back summer mode to the hardcore work mode in a split second and it's all due to New York Fashion Week SS11!

Let me give you some highlights of the week, so far…


A big deal was made of NYFW moving out of Bryant Park to Lincoln Center but it doesn’t take too much time to adjust for the backstage layouts, exits, entrance protocol etc…


The same old seating plan drama…


And backstage madness…



All in the name of fashion…

Fashion’s Night Out
This year is the 2nd year of the Fashion’s Night Out event. I am sure you must have also enjoyed the event in a part of the HK /BJ/ TW. The entire town has gone crazy here in NYC.


5:30pm… Red Carpet Checked…



5:45pm… Clipboard Checked…


5:45pm… Clipboard Checked…



The Queen is happy… Priceless…)

Alrighty, it’s about time for me to sign off now… Stay tune for the next report from Big Apple.

Oh how I heart leather. You should see me in shops when the sales assistants turn their heads away -- manhandling, sniffing and generally molesting specimens of the softest, most buttery skin. And then eventually my purrs of lust alert the salespeople to irregular activity and I'm forced to pretend I was only casually eyeing some garment. Because leather is such a tactile pleasure, it's frustrating to see it on a flat screen... like watching porn with the sound off. But it doesn't stop these babies from looking damn good.

When I posted last week about the top 10 LBDs at NYFW, among the selection was a sort of caped Paris 68 dress that gave me wet dreams about being a caped crusader-Catwoman kind of hybrid. And then I noticed that it wasn't just one designer that created garments utilizing this silhouette/neckline. Spotted in London and Milan:


Christopher Kane did a more structured version that might only give you limited arm mobility...


Luisa Beccaria did a very demure, lady-like pleated blue...


And at Emilio Pucci, a very dramatic and wispy version...

Images: Style.com

There are a few things that we all have in common -- we all eat, sleep, poop, etc. When it comes to the category of us ladies, I'm pretty sure that amid all the differences, one thing we probably have in common is that we each own at least one incarnation of the Little Black Dress. In my case, it's more like 30 different versions. But I thought it'd be interesting to trawl through all of New York Fashion Week and find the 10 best LBDs around (I haven't gotten through LFW yet). Starting with the above... a grid-like pattern at Herve Leger by Max Azria which seems much more forgiving than the previous bandage dresses.


For a posh night on the town for a girly girl, this Marchesa lace dress is sophisticated and flattering.


No surprises here, the queen of the LBD, Victoria Beckham, gives us a sleek and classic pencil silhouette, updated with a little draping at the neckline.


Threeasfour has been more and more impressive each season. If you remove the alien-princess-from-Star-Trek styling, this is actually a beautiful sleeveless round-necked assymmetrical dress in a flashy fabric.


Oh Proenza Schouler. The designer duo seemed to have been moving away from the corseting that made them famous in the beginning, but I see a hint of that coming back in this little dress, though the bodice isn't as severe. And I'm such a sucker for leather.


Jen Kao is a relatively new label, but it's been making quite a bit of noise in a short time, especially in the blogger circle. This rock 'n roll furry vest and minidress would be perfect for a leggy model. Which sadly, I am not.


Paris 68 is in its first season, its designer Marcella Lindeberg's husband works on William Rast, but I like her collection more than the Justin Timberlake-helmed rugged denim-loving brand. This black dress with a built-in cape is so simply yet so different from anything you see out there.


I'm not personally big on embellishments, the whole pailette-covered bejewelled thing. But if you have to weigh down your look with built-in accoutrements, then Malandrino does hardware right: chunky, dark, daring.


If the doyenne of wedding-day wear were to do a wedding dress in black and cut it to cocktail length, I think this is what it would look like. But what I think is so genius is that it is romantic while maintaining a bit of contemporary flair.


Last but certainly not least, Coach's Reed Krakoff's inaugural womenswear collection under his own name has this utilitarian feel that I'm very much liking. This leather dress comes off as a little bit dungaree-ish, which I like, I like a lot.

Images: Style.com

Since the weather decided to have a temper tantrum and give us the cold, cold shoulder, I've been living in my puff jacket (even indoors) and dreaming about getting myself a shearling jacket to wear on the three days a year Hong Kong gets ridiculously cold. New York Fashion Week is a great place to window shop for such an item, as the city's cold climate and commitment to utilitarianism makes a perfect backdrop for such an item. My favourite one is this black-and-white Helmut Lang... what an underrated label.

But also below, worthy of mention...


A lengthy black-on-black take on Shipley & Halmos; almost a cross between shearling aviator and your trusty motorcycle jacket (but much warmer).


Reed Krakoff's boxy, slouchy take for more casual days.


Phillip Lim's fluffy cropped number looks fab with wide-legged pants. Are those coming back? I'm excited; skinny jeans are starting to cut off circulation in my calves.


This not-exactly-a-shearling-jacket jacket is a Michael Kors number, I think it's fur and silk but it accomplishes the same effect and moreover, I love it. It's like a blanket and a jacket all rolled into one.


And finally, check out this ADAM shearling and leather bomber-parka, the wide collar is fab; if I can't have the Helmut Lang then this would be a close second choice.