Hot trends popping up at Fashion Week

Several of fashion's big guns have yet to show their Fall 2010 collections, but a few trends have already emerged at New York Fashion Week.

THE ARTFUL COLLAGE: Several designers have beautifully combined diverse — and often surprising — fabrics (chiffon and leather) in their garments.

COMING MUST-HAVES: Christian Siriano's next Payless shoe collection, inspired by French antique furniture such as Louis XVI chairs, with filigree detailing or lion's-paw feet worked into high heels; Rebecca Taylor's sparkling hosiery in olive and navy; Donna Karan's DKNY color-patched and tied-every-which-way little dresses; white or black slash boots from Hervé Leger by Max Azria.

LADY BOUNTIFUL BUZZ: Naomi Campbell's good deed for Haiti is the talk under the tents. The supermodel formerly known for throwing telephones speed-dialed her designer and model friends — and a former British royal, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York — to help organize a star-studded fundraiser to aid mothers and children in the earthquake-ravaged country. The capacity audience (975 sitting, another 200 standing) paid up to $150 to see a slim-lined Kelly Osbourne, Chris Brown, Helena Christensen and designers Diane von Furstenberg and Donna Karan model clothes to be sold on the net-a-porter Web site. Campbell is a global ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance, a coalition that helps women and children in Third World countries. She appeared three times on the runway, greeted each time with a standing ovation.

BLACK OUT: While many designers are still pushing a dark palette for fall, a few are headed toward the rainbow. At Peter Som, purple reigned with a wine chenille skirt and a plum cotton-velvet tiered dress, a charmeuse dress and a stunning cotton-candy Mongolian lamb coat. Karan's DKNY line was rich with browns, color grids, sapphire and deco florals. Taylor incorporated teal, slate blue and purple. Lela Rose worked with flaming orange, pink and cobalt. Siriano's show-stopping shade was hot pink on an organza draped bodice and scalloped tulle gown.

TWO FOR TWO: Max Azria is the busiest designer here, with three collections on the schedule. And surprise, surprise, the first two — his youthful BCBG and the bandage-tight Hervé Leger lines — were his best ever. Azria, who caters to the young Hollywood jet set, presented a minimalist collection of color blocking worked into long black T-shirts that served as the foundation for many his asymmetrical dresses, sometimes worn with skinny trousers or leggings. Backstage at the Leger show, he said his dresses are “a second-skin armor for today's tough modern woman.” The skin-tight shells were made of neoprene, metallic knits, velvet prints and more, some enamel-beaded in hot pink and green. Azria's third show is today.

Source : www.chron.com