Andrew Mukamal: New York Fashion Week Day 6

[Ed note: Andrew Mukamal, co-star of the new Bravo reality TV show Kell on Earth featuring fashion PR guru Kelly Cutrone, will be filing daily dispatches from New York Fashion Week. Continue to check back at Truman Says for his personal lowdown on everything that goes down on the runways, backstage, and beyond.]

Although fashion week has been going on for almost a week, we had our first show up at Bryant Park yesterday for our client Toni Francesc. While the office was buzzing with last minutes preparation for the 9:00PM show, I was preoccupied at my desk watching Showstudio's live stream of the Rodarte A/W 2010 collection. In a wintery white, heart breakingly romantic collection, featuring loads of muted florals, plaids, white lace/mesh and tulle, the models walked slowly around those lucky enough to get a seat at this blockbuster of a show, channeling a Virgin Suicides/Children of the Corn meets Corpse Bride vibe.

While beautifully embroidered lace and mesh layered under white and cream knit skirts and paneled jackets were shown as day looks, the final Burton-esque white and cream bridal-inspired gown looks are what really stole the show. What should be noted is the importance of the contrast between this season's neo-noir-romanticism and S/S 2010's tribal/sci-fi collection. Only the genius of the girls at Rodarte could make this kind of change in texture, cut and color provide the same haunting vibrations for their audience.
Just as the collection was coming to an end, the models arranged themselves around a cluster of burning melting candles, and as the lights went down, the room was flooded with black light and the white collection began to glow, changing the romantic mood of this collection in an unmistakeably on-trend 90's/rave feeling finale.

My gushing over this collection wouldn't be complete without mentioning yet another INSANE collaboration on the shoes with Nicholas Kirkwood, which this season featured glowing light up heels and ballerina inspired ankle wraps. A few hours before our 9:00PM show Kelly, Robyn and I hopped into a car and headed uptown to the tents at Bryant Park. Backstage at the salon Toni prepped his Blade Runner, futuristic collection as we all prepared the gift bags and checked in everyone for his Sci-Fi feeling show.

Lights went down just a few minutes behind schedule and the packed venue watched as black wigged models were presented in sharp shouldered silhouettes with low wedged boots in various muted browns and blacks. After the show it was off to Cellar Bar at the Bryant Park Hotel for the Toni Francesc after party where I had a drink and headed home for a good night's rest to prep for the following long and exciting day. News from Jeremy Scott's show and after party coming in tomorrow!

-- ANDREW MUKAMAL

Kell on Earth airs on Mondays on Bravo at 10pm EST. Head here for more info.

To read previous Fashion Week posts from Andrew, click here.

To read our exclusive interview with Andrew (and to watch our video interview with him), click here.

To read our exclusive interview with Kelly Cutrone, click here.