New York Fashion Week: Time To Try New Tricks

It has been a fashion week of experimentation. Vera Wang, Alice Temperely, Philip Lim, Derek Lam and Zac Posen all took big risks with their signature looks -- with varying degrees of success.

I love Zac and his mom, but the collection last night left me confused. Zac is known for working the department store circuit like no one else. He prides himself on knowing his customer, and what they want. Do they want ball gowns with crinolines underneath? I guess we'll have to take his word for it. Many of the dresses were beautifully constructed, I'm just not sure that they'll go flying out of stores. But maybe if he's there to talk the ladies through it, and accompany them to the ball, they will.

What distressed me most of all was that Posen has jumped on the really silly shoe trend. Watching the shows is becoming increasingly uncomfortable as editors sympathize with the models in creations that seem designed to trip them up. (Last night they did and sent Karen Elson to the ground.)

We sympathize because we know they have no choice but to wear them. When we see real women tottering into the shows in them, we simply laugh.

Photos by Brent Murray, who was wearing patch pocket coat by Maison Martin Margiela and cap-toe brogues by Gucci.