Article: Jo Springthorpe from women24

I arrived in New York city around 1pm, after spending the Labour Day weekend on a friend's farm in Hudson, which is Upstate New York. Labour Day is the long weekend in America that marks the official last day of summer – the kids head back to school, the swimsuits are packed away and the leaves start to change colour as fall (or autumn) begins.

The reason I'm telling you about my weekend before New York Fashion Week Spring 2008 is because while I was in Hudson I was at a dinner party with friends, and the host, who had heard I was Fashion Editor of In Style magazine South Africa, pulls me by my arm and insists on introducing me to one of the other guests. Turns out this someone is Bibu Mohapatra, Design Director for J Mendel in New York! And he insisted that I see his show on Friday. Wow, at least there'll be one designer I can say I know!

A fashion nobody
It really is a hair raising experience being here for fashion week… unlike in Cape Town or Joburg where I know all the designers, make-up artists etc, here I feel like a nobody (which I am). Actually it's quite nice because I don't have to worry as much about what I am wearing or that my eyes are red from flying or that I am having a fat day... know what I mean?

The first show started this morning at 10am and I am really excited walking down 5th Avenue past all my favourite stores (I used to live here for 6 years so its always feels good to be back). All the store windows have their new Fall merchandise in it, in South Africa we are still only on Summer 2007, and I am here in New York for the Summer 2008 shows… quite confusing!

I arrive at Bryant park which is on 40th Street, and the Avenue right in the centre of Manhattan. They have erected a huge tent, which for the next week is where all the who's who in the design world and the celebs will be wearing their high heels and coming to show their support (and best dresses) for the fashion world... everywhere I look are beautiful people and lots of them!

Meeting a hero
The first show I'm here to see is BCBGMAXAZARIA. I go in the backstage entrance (Lucky me… I have a friend who slips me in) and head straight into a hype of photographers, hair, make-up and lots of incredibly tall skinny gorgeous models... sitting on the floor eating croissants! Don't you hate that?

My friend introduces me to a fashion photographer I have admired my whole life while drooling over the likes of Vogue magazine. His name is Patrick Demarcelier and he has shot the best of the best including all those beautiful later photos of Princess Diana that we all know so well. I want to hug him, but I keep my cool and rather just compliment him.

Could this be real?
From there I am ushered into the main hall and take my seat. The show is running 30 min late, but I guess they don't call it "fashionably late" for nothing. As they dim the lights and the music starts I pinch myself – I have come a long way for this moment!

The BCBG show is so beautiful. Soft, delicate, feminine pieces in tones of beige, taupe, cream and pale coral; each dress is belted in the waist with a broad leather belt in either pale or dark brown and knotted with a tie. There are lots of folds bustiers, pleats and volume. The dresses float and there are lots of twists and ties. The models are wearing patent heels and some metallic hint, but for the most part this is a very pretty monotone vision. I just want one of those dresses. A couple of the models carry a simple crocodile leather bag shaped like a small satchel... absolute heaven!

Jo Springthorpe is the Fashion Editor of In Style Magazine.