Fashion fanatics from around the globe gathered at Lincoln Center on Thursday to see the Spring 2012 collections by over 250 designers. Decked in the trendiest pieces mixed with timeless classics, the attendees hurried to the first day of an entire week of fashion shows. Aside from traditional fashion shows, this year’s Fashion Week opening features the Supima Design Competition, where students from four different schools compete to design the best pieces out of Supima Cotton. Another special show is Fatigued to Fabulous, where female veterans are dressed in designer apparel and walk down the runway. The Epoch Times asked the a few of the attendees about the opening shows and the their personal taste in fashion.
  Michael Fink, dean of the School of Fashion at the Savannah College of Art and Design, goes to Fashion Week every year. He attended the Supima Design Competition, and has a full schedule for the entire fashion week. “It’s an exciting and invigorating week,” says Fink. He described his style as “bold and quirky conservative.” |
  Kate Nauta, who lives in Los Angeles and is from Oregon, is a model turned singer and actress who attended Fashion Week to support a friend. She is recording her album and working on music in the city. “I love chic and edgy [styles] and I always like to throw in a little rock and roll.” |
  Jodell Shields, a consultant for photo shoots, said that she looked forward to seeing new and emerging designers’ collections. Shields, who had participated in shooting photos for the September issue of Departure Magazine, attends Fashion Week every season. She described her style as eclectic. “I really love chunky jewelry, the bigger the better,” she said while pointing at her handmade necklace. |
  Karen Klopp, founder of What2WearWhere.com, was invited to the Fatigues to Fabulous show and planned on attending the Tadashi Shoji show later on Thursday. “It’s really an exciting time,” she said of Fashion Week. “I think its fantastic that they moved the venue [to Lincoln Center].” The owner of the popular styling website described her own style as “very classic and chic.” |
  Brittany Cremmen and Taylor Dreispan are students from the Parsons School of Design. It is Cremmen’s first Fashion Week while Dreispan has been several times. The two planned to attend the Tadashi Shoji show. Cremmen, who has experience working at fashion shows, described her style as a combination of “modern, trendy, and classic” while Taylor’s style is “simple and neutral.” |
  Candice Lake, a fashion photographer from Australia, attended the Richard Chai show. She was only able to catch the end of the show, but said that what she saw was “amazing” and “really beautiful.” Lake said that her style is classic with a twist. “I love a bright pop of color with eccentric silhouettes.” Her favorite designer is Ralph Lauren. |
  Crystal Nicodemus, a Nordstrom blogger, is attending Fashion Week for the first time. Although she has not attended any shows yet, she looks forward to the upcoming Acne show. Her style is “vintage inspired and classic preppy,” and her favorite designers include Acne and Ralph Lauren. |
  Lauren Craig from New Jersey is a fashion correspondent and does red carpet hosting. She has attended numerous Fashion Weeks and is in town to see the Supima Design Competition. “Over the top” and “vintage” are the words she used to describe her style and she especially favors brands like Michael Kors and L.A.M.B. “Fashion Week is an extravaganza,” said Craig. “It’s great inspiration to see what other people are wearing, what other people are doing with their hair and makeup.” |
  Actress Sparkling Sterling attended the BCBG show, which she described as “off the charts beautiful, tribal ... everything a spring collection needs to be.” She comes to Fashion Week every September and has a mixed style of her own. “I love mixing vintage with modern accessories,” she said. |
  Forbes reporter Hannah Elliot of New York attends “every season, all week” every September and was on her way to attend the Tadashi Shoji show. She had also seen Richard Chai, Mackage, and What Goes Around Comes Around. She particularly liked What Goes Around Comes Around. “They’re really creative with what they do and its sort of Bohemian, eclectic,” she said. “I love how they just pull inspiration from different countries.” She describes her fashion sense as “minimalist” and “eclectic.” |
  McArthur Joseph, social media and style director for fashionindie.com, said that he attends Fashion Week every season. Jospeh had attended the Richard Chai show. “He’s youthful and cool, and he’s getting chicer,” he said. “He’s really getting his own aesthetic, and I’m really digging it.” He describes his own style as “all around town.” |
  Klaus Gunther, a button designer from Germany, and his wife Ingeborg Gunther attended the fashion show to see the Supima Design Competition. Although he does not regularly attend fashion shows, he said that the Fashion Week is an important event that allows him to meet designers from around the world. |
