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

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!

Day 2 of New York Fashion Week was jam-packed with so many amazing things, that I had to break it up into two posts!

In the afternoon, I headed up to Lincoln Center (which is conveniently located just a few blocks north of the Marie Claire offices), for the Tadashi Shoji runway show. Tadashi Shoji is one of those designers that I can always rely on to make pretty evening gowns that are available in a wide range of sizes — most are available in a 2 - 24. Drawing inspiration from tulips and the natural gradation of colors, the show started with tulip-cut dresses with a dip-dye effect, that very literally took on the inspiration. This portion of the collection had a youthful feeling, though it progressed into something more mature and polished, and concluded with beautifully detailed 1920s inspired looks. I loved the drop-waist dresses that ended the show!

Next on the agenda, the Candela presentation! The moment I stepped in, I was overwhelmed by the intense heat in the room, but once I got looking at the collection with its rich, vibrant color palette mixed with neutrals and the jungle-themed set design and soundtrack, the heat seemed to make sense. The lighting in the room was perfect, with all eyes on the models at the center. The fun, playful shoes nestled on bookshelves, with succulents and fruit amongst them, made me crave a tropical vacation — just as I was getting into the swing of fall, too.

Finally, after a couple of hours of work put in at the office, I headed out for some highly anticipated Fashion's Night Out activities. Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a die-hard lover of Miu Miu. Miuccia Prada's little-sister line is the perfect balance of whimsy and femininity for me each and every season, but the Fall/Winter 2011 collection was among my favorites to date — and I really thought the Miu Miu Spring-2010 collection would be impossible to beat! Though I may not have the waistline (or the budget) for their stunning dresses, their accessories are absolute perfection, from glittering curved heels to tough boarskin satchels, I want it all.

Lustworthy bits and pieces aside, there was a killer soundtrack provided by Elizabeth Spiridakis, super-blogger/art-director/and resident DJ for the evening, and Tavi Gevinson (of the newly-launched Rookie Mag), Sea of Shoes blogger Jane Aldridge, and Judy Aldridge of Atlantis Homewere hosting the event. It was great to see so many familiar faces while trying to resist the temptation of buying all of the accessories. Three floors of gorgeousness can be a lot to withstand, especially after a long, fashion-filled day!