New York Fashion Week: Elie Tahari Fall 2010

The Scene: Upon entrance into the Salon for the Tahari show, I first noticed no seats on the platforms, then was nearly knocked over by a male model making his catwalk turn. After a few moments of re-orientation, it was clear that Tahari had eliminated the hullabaloo of seating arrangements and late start times by basically having everyone walk in, stand around randomly, and watch the entire show on a loop.



Overheard In The Crowd [Upon Exiting]: "Wait, can I say I was in the front row?"


Celebs: Joan Rivers looking as confused as the rest of us regarding the lack of seating. At least I think she looked confused, but it was hard to read any expression on her face.



The Collection: Tahari showed both men's and women's collections, after a several season absence from the tents. The men's pieces were modern, sharp, and well-tailored, in shades of black and charcoal.



Inspired by the modern traveler, the women's line showed more variety, starting off with dark leather and fur ensembles obviously meant for a younger clientele - who apparently travel in thigh-high leather boots. Standouts were the large fur-tiered handbags the models folded over and carried as clutches. After the leather parade came the more conservative, signature Tahari pieces in shades of bronze, grey, and soft brown. Particularly eye-catching were the knits - lush, soft, almost blanket-like with cozy hoods.

Trend Spotting: thigh-high leather boots, platform shoes detailed with fur, and oversized bags.

Overall Impression: I've always been a fan of Tahari and although some of the earlier pieces were a bit on the outlandish side, I appreciated the effort to keep the name moving forward. However, the pieces I would take home are the ones that look and feel Tahari - comfortable, wearable, classic.