I wasn’t familiar with Thuy Diep before Fashion Week, but now I’m a fan. In fact, this collection has been one of my favourites. The colour palette was visually effective, the designs innovative and wearable, and the fabrics luxuriously robust. I’ll take one of each of the items you see on the models below please – only I’d mix it up with denim for a more practical, street fashion interpretation.

Thuy paired exquisite fuchsia, chartreuse/mustard and tomato red with strong neutrals like black, white, chestnut and charcoal grey. The impact was absolutely delicious, especially on iridescent fabrics liked crushed velour, satin chamouse and shot silk. The light dancing on these textures was simply magical and I could have watched this show over and over again.

Silhouettes were both sleek and voluminous. No slacks or denim at all. Skirts are getting a little roomier and longer which will make a nice change this Autumn season. There was also a lot of fur, which I could have done without. I don’t think it added to these exquisite ensembles but I guess fur (real and faux) is widely seen in all Fall collections.

The waist cinching belt is still a HUGE trend, not only in this show but in most of the collections we’ve seen here at Fashion Week. Heeled booties have been the number one item of footwear both on and off the runway. And as with all cold weather collections, black, grey and white underpin every other colour.

The Georges Chakra collection still ranks as my favourite, because I was mesmerized by the luster of the fabrics and the strength of the couture. But Thuy comes in as a close second because of it’s fun ready-to-wear integrity. Which of the collections we’ve covered here on YLF tickled your fancy the most?

The media is a big part of the hustle and bustle of fashion week. Everywhere you look there are bloggers and print magazine photographers taking photos, and camera crews doing interviews for TV. I was interviewed twice yesterday — for American Express TV and a Fashion Channel in Brazil — and quite enjoyed the process. I was asked about my style, the outfit I was wearing, where I was from, what line of work I was in, which company I represented, my perceptions of Fashion Week, the highlights, the lowlights and what I thought of New York city.

Yesterday I wore a stretchy grey Club Monaco pencil skirt with an Ann Fontaine turtle neck, studded black belt, Burberry scarf, Wolford hose and slouchy Frye boots. I carried a Michael Kors satchel, a black and white polka dot umbrella and my puffer to finish off the look. I was totally comfortable walking around in the snow, sleet and rain and even managed to keep my hair straight.

The shoes worn by the attendants of Fashion Week deserved a runway show of their own. In fact, if you kept your head down and focused on the floors of the tents throughout the week, you’d be suitably entertained. We’ve seen it all around here: from ballet flats, strappy cage heels, peep-toes, mary janes, over the knee-high boots and uggs, to wellies, pumps, riding boots, booties, sneakers, Docs, spectators and oxfords.

Because it’s Winter, neutrally toned boots and booties are the most popular form of footwear: from the sleekest flat equestrian styles, to the highest of platform wedges. Pumps were the next most popular form of footwear, with no shortage of red soled Christian Louboutins. There are definitely more heels than flats making their rounds here at fashion week, with three inch heels being the average height. There are also loads of women sporting five and six inch heels. I don’t know HOW they do it, but they can include their high heel walking skills in their resumes.

If I had to pick to most common shoe worn here at Fashion Week, it would be a four inch black stiletto bootie. Next would be a four inch black stiletto pump worn with hose. Some of the shoes are so pretty and beautifully made that I would gladly display them as works of art at home — a much better idea than using them for walking.

You’ve seen what I’ve been wearing on my feet to fashion week and I’ve felt just as fab. We love, love, love to walk extensively in cities, so my extra comfy one to two inch heeled boots suit me just fine as we charge through the streets of Manhattan in rain, snow and shine. What would you wear on your feet if you were here at New York Fashion Week?

The Perry Ellis show last night was great fun. The lighting dimmed, the music started, and out walked 28 flawless male models strutting their stuff. Perry Ellis has been around for a long time and I’ve always liked his sportswear. And it was fun to see blokes in flat shoes glide across the runway for a change.

The collection was fantastic. The outfits were totally wearable, with a few fun avant-garde additions, like waistcoats, bow ties, suspenders and cravats. The palette consisted of scrumptious combinations like black paired with navy, maroon paired with chocolate brown, charcoal paired with teal, and grey and white paired with tomato red. There were also several mono-chromatically toned outfits in grey and black which I liked just as much.

Quilted jackets made quite a big statement along with 70’s style leather blazers, embossed velvet blazers and biker jackets. There were a few things I wished I could order for Greg right now – like the cropped black jacket you see on the model above left. Now wouldn’t THAT be fun.

Leather pants, jeans, checked pants and sleek slacks were paired with striped knitwear and striped shirts. Patterns were often mixed, working in complete harmony. Suits featured quite strongly too, which makes me wish that more men would actually wear suits in fun ways. I guess that’s too much to ask in a world where, for the most part, blokes just want to wear jeans and shorts.

This has been the most commercial and mainstream collection we’ve seen so far. The Perry Ellis designer seemed pleased with his work too. And so he should be. This is good salable merchandise.

The Perry Ellis website currently has a video showing backstage action, an interview with the designer and the show itself on their front page.