FashionWeek, The Play-by-Play Day 6

10:30am - Brooks Brothers

The Brooks Brothers market appointment was set up in five distinct vignettes: the classics (with an impressionist painter vibe); a Hamptons Fourth of July with faux burgers and plastic hot dogs (along with the usual picnic spread of red and white check, with splashes of blue); a San Francisco country club scene in blacks and ivories; a Palm Beach holiday in pastels and candy colors; and finally the Black Fleece capsule collection by Thom Browne. Thom Browne's showing on Sunday was simply a prelude to his nautical infatuation for Black Fleece Spring 2010. Lots of anchor motif and navy and whites. I adored the suitcase covered in a rope and nautical print. Finally on my way out, I spotted a previously unseen pair of Brooks Brother classic sandals, which will be my shoe of choice. They were delectable.

3pm - Thakoon

Not that we shoot much women's wear (so there wasn't really a reason to be at Thakoon's runway show in the art gallery district of Chelsea), but we just styled him for our December/January Out 100 issue (yes, he's in the portfolio) and we fell in love with him and his cameo in The September Issue. Needless to say, it was fashion-star studded: Rachel Zoe, Grace Coddington, Bee Shaffer (Anna Wintour's daughter), and Joe Zee (another member of this year's Out 100 portfolio). We aren't as in the loop with the women's fashion scene, but those prints and colors and playful cutaway dresses were so damn pretty. And (to my surprise), Thakoon was the first of fashion week to use my absolute favorite, Florence and the Machine, for his musical selection (I thought I'd be hearing more of her this week). For his bow, Thakoon appeared in a Burkman Brothers plaid flannel (we supported those boys from the get-go), which I think is just so sexy!

5pm - Patrik Ervell

Patrik loves to show at Pier 59 Studios (I think he's been there for at least four seasons now) and it is clear why. The lighting from the Hudson river is heaven (especially at 5 on a September day). His show of golden wheat, dusty blue, and pale frosting colors (mint and rose) for some reason brought me back to childhood (and it wasn't because 13-year-old fashion blogger, Tavi, was sitting in front of me). Then I read the show notes on "stains" and "fading and washing fabrics" and "California" and it all made sense. Before my eyes were flashes of my youth: Maui and Sons board shorts, school boy cardigans, club collars, Easter Sunday looks. Of course, it was all updated with the tailoring, the Clarks desert boots, and the use of iron and copper oxide to create an all-over stain pattern effect that was simply stunning.

6pm - Michael Bastian

I have to say, I much preferred when Michael Bastian showed in a presentation environment with cocktails. So much more relaxed, enjoyable, and a better approach for his brand and clothes. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed when I arrived and realized it was assigned seating. That was until Brad from The Rachel Zoe Project arrived and was sat directly in front of me. He is such a handsome one (and I am not just saying that because I often get compared to him). He is so sweet (and another Out 100 portfolio member). As for the clothes, the strongest pieces were the Breton sweater, a lemon sorbet color story, a chambray shirt with ethnic embroidery as well as an ethnic knit cummerbund (trust me, it is a trend), and there was this burgundy wine-colored evening jacket that I just wanted to drink up. The music was fun and playful and afterward all I wanted was to be sipping a cocktail in Ipanema.