Big Girl in a Skinny World: Fashion Week Diary

published 10 September 2011

We're so excited to have Nicolette Mason, our newest Big Girl in a Skinny World contributor, Nicolette Mason, covering NYFW for Marie Claire. Come back every day for her diary!

Today was a major day. First of all, it marked the official start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, the return of the bi-annual Fashion's Night Out, and within the world of Marie Claire, the announcement that I'll be the new Big Girl in a Skinny World columnist! Of course, lots of other amazing things happened, too, and I plan on telling you every last detail of it...!

The morning started bright and early at Hearst Tower with a visit from Tumblr's NYFW bloggers, which meant that I finally got to meet Tumblr fashion director Rich Tong, Jamie Beck of From Me To You, Tanesha of Girl With Curves, and the slew of other bloggers that came in from all over the world. By the way, did you know that Marie Claire launched its own Tumblr this week? Check it out!

Fashion Week Diary: Big Girl in a Skinny World Day 2

Post breakfast (hooray for breaking stereotypes that no one in fashion eats!), I headed a few blocks north to Lincoln Center for BCBG. If there was one major takeaway, it's that color blocking isn't going anywhere! Chartreuse, navy, tangerine, and charcoal, kaleidoscope prints dominated the runway completely. I was also very pleased to see pleats! I do love a pleat.

Richard Chai followed immediately after, with punchy, upbeat music with color popping and prints to match. I loved the modern take on Hawaiian prints, pairing soft coral with violets amongst a palette of mustard, navy, teal, and cobalt. The same colors even got shout-outs in the lipstick department! Bright purple and teal lips? Sign me up! The collection was well-balanced and cohesive, with everything from beautifully tailored striped blazers, to silky dresses with cut-out detailings (including what I like to call "the cold shoulder,") to relaxed sarong skirts. The one thing I am skeptical about, though? Skants. A skirt-plus-pants combo that fixed the front (only the front!) of a skirt to the pants. Skants are probably the perfect subject for The Man Repeller, but not for me.

With several of my Marie Claire comrades in tow, we headed downtown to Milk Studios, where Cushnie et Ochs were debuting their newest and brightest (hint, hint). In any case, we made it to Milk with a bit of time to spare, and sat with anticipation. I think I'm a bit biased because the girls of Cushnie et Ochs and I graduated from the same class as me at Parsons, but, I get so overwhelmingly proud and excited when I see new, young designers succeeding at their craft. Their spring collection was filled with covetable dresses with a refined palette of white, black, and highlighter yellow and pink. I love neon in the right context, and their dresses are certainly the right context.

Next, it was off to Rachel Antonoff. I absolutely love her youthful aesthetic - and only wish I could wear it all. A light-filled space in the West Village was transformed into the "Antonoff Manor", with black and white facades and cardboard cut-out illustrations that felt like an Edward Gorey rendition of The Virgin Suicides, (set design was by Aux Armes, with set illustration by Alia Penner.) Another season, and another collaboration with Bass ♥ Rachel Antonoff: holy swoon. Patent saddle shoes and clear cut-outs... Is it spring yet? Every element of the presentation was well thought out and perfectly put together - from the listless (and even sinister) faces on the models, to the music deejayed by Tennessee Thomas of The Like, and Rachel Antonoff herself is as adorable as her collection.