Tampabay.com

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Fashion Week 2012 recap: Poofs, fur and Olsens

So, New York Fashion Week happened. It's so far out of the realm of our daily lives -- you know, working at jobs and taking care of families and making Hamburger Helper -- that sometimes it just blows right by. It's certainly relevant, though, because whatever the cray-cray designers trot out every season trickles down directly into our Target bargain bins. But if you're not intensely IN IT TO WIN IT, it's hard to keep up with every single show.

That's why you have us. To summarize! Here are some observations from this past week in the alternate reality called New York Fashion Week.

Full skirts

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Oscar de la Renta showed a cadre of deliciously floofy cupcake creations. This is really exciting, guys. Full skirts bode well for our Little Debbie snack cake habit. When there's 18 yards of tulle pin-tucked around your waist, your arms look really tiny. It may be better than Weight Watchers. We're so pumped! We're so...

Tight skirts

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Oh. Well, shoot. Sleek, form-fitting silhouettes were just as prevalent, like this from Victoria Beckham (who is a 4-pound stick insect herself). There's no denying this is a sexier shape on just about everyone. But it also means maybe just eating one box of Christmas Tree Cakes this year instead of six. FINE. WHATEVER. Side note: LOVE the boot socks here.

Fur

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Ruh roh. We kind of thought this had sailed with one season, but apparently not. We love faux fur, but the real stuff remains controversial as ever. Just ask our best friend and father figure, Tim Gunn. Nonetheless, engorged squirrel garments sailed down the runway at Vivienne Tam and Michael Kors, whose model is seen here with something swiped from the closet of Boris and Natasha.

Pants of horror

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Listen up, Ralph Lauren, and listen good. This cut of pants looks good on approximately NO ONE, population ZERO BLACK HOLE. OK? They don't even really work on a Kentucky Derby stable boy sent to fetch more Mane 'n Tail. This look is achieved after eating six boxes of Christmas Tree cakes (see above) and following up with absolutely no physical activity. This is a human ice cream cone (in a natty Glenurquhart check, but still). Put down the hash pipe. Society thanks you.

Pleats

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Behnaz Sarafpour trotted out some pleated skirts that were adorably Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5. This is so kicky and retro. I'm going to have to pull out the yellow pleated skirt you all scared me into shoving into the depths of my closet last year. REMEMBER? My Outfit Monday ruins lives.

Rampant Olsenry

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HAHAHAHAHAHA. I can't. I can't even. Michelle Tanner-squared sat in the front row for their line, The Row, looking like actors rejected from the Valerie Plame biopic auditions. I have to think, based on their knowing smirks, that they had some sense of humor about this. I hope Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen got together before the show and were like, "Let's wear hilarious Anna Wintour sunglasses. Omigod, no. We can't. Can we? OK, let's do it. Everyone will think we're serious, and then we'll go home and count our money."

Fashion week, we cherish you.

Deal Diva Stephanie

Photos: AP, Getty, Times files.

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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