Andre Leon Talley, Phillip Lim, and Linda Fargo

[Christian Louboutin for Phillip Lim Heels, Fashion Pulsers Julia & Jaimie]

I had never been to the American Express shows before, and was always curious as to if they were exactly the same as the regular runway shows. The answer is both a yes and a no; there’s a cocktail hour beforehand, and discussion on the runway with industry vets and the designer who’s showing. My experience of the whole event closed out spring 2010 fashion week on a lovely note, and I do have to admit it was quite wonderful to sit front row at the American Express Phillip Lim show, not having to worry about gettnig run over by the paparazzi or waiting for an indefinite amount of time for the show to start.  I did feel that the entire vibe was so much more mellow and organized than the regularly scheduled shows, and everything was so fresh and new, since 3.1  Phillip Lim had just debuted for the fashion crowd the night before. The discussion was between Andre Leon Talley, Linda Fargo and the charming Phillip Lim, and then the runway show started!

The collection was breathtaking, as to be expected, with sky high heels that proved to be a challenge for some models, a strong palette of largely black and white pieces, and amazing draping -pleats that were a mix of Fortuny and Rodarte-inspired looks. I felt a slight nod to Narciso Rodriguez, yet downtown cool prevailed and Phillip Lim is truly the king of chic for the ultra-modern lady. Overall, the American Express show experience was incredibly pleasant, and a great night out for a taste of the best of fashion week for the non-fashion industry folks with an AmEx card!