The fashion gods must love me. I woke up the day after Valentine’s Day to an email inviting me to cover backstage at the Zac Posen Fall 2010 show—and was immediately thrilled. This was better than chocolate, champagne, roses and jewelry, since I’ve been smitten with the young designer for as long as I can remember. (And yes, in case you were wondering, he knocked my boy toy out of the park and was definitely my Valentine this year).

I jetted to the Altman Building on 18th Street faster than you can say “Fashion Week” and was ushered downstairs and through a long corridor to backstage. The scene was a fashion frenzy with hairstylists, media, celebrities, models and make-up artists all scrambling hurriedly in preparation for the show.

Amidst the chaos, I chatted with head make-up artist for MAC, Stephane Marias. He revealed the look was created for the “young girl who is a rebel and a little bit punk” who spent the night partying and woke up the next morning still looking “sophisticated and chic.” The night-before eyeliner is something every woman has been guilty of waking up with but Marias assures this look is more trendy than trashy.

To recreate it, apply “smudgy eyeliner on the top and bottom” of the eye and “fade it away with a q-tip.”  To compliment the “fierce” eyes, the skin was left bare and lips were painted deep faded red to appear like “left-over lipstick” from the previous night. Scroll down for images of the make-up artists at work on models, like Sessilee Lopez (who I met backstage! She’s super sweet).

Zac Posen and head MAC makeup artist, Stephane Marias

The man of the hour, Zac Posen, showed off his charming, boyish good looks as photographers snapped away minutes before the show—which was styled by his true Valentine, boyfriend Christopher Niquet. Meanwhile, celebrities like Miss J of America’s Next Top Model, Veronica Webb and legendary supermodel, Pat Cleveland (whose daughter Anna walked in the show and is Posen’s new muse) chatted and hammed it up for the cameras.

After leaving the backstage area and securing a spot in the Standing section (Yes, I stood in my studded boots with a sprained ankle to see the show. Anything for Zac!), I mingled with friends, Elaine Welteroth of Ebony Magazine and “Ferocia” of The Glamazons Blog until it was finally time for the show to start.

Celebrated hip-hop violinist, Miri Ben-Ari, stood to the left of the runway and gave a rousing rendition of songs by rapper, Styles P of the Lox, and Run DMC. While Ben-Ari’s electric violin filled the room, backed by a thumping beat, famous beauties, Alek Wek, Sessilee Lopez, Anna Cleveland and Coco Rocha, stormed the catwalk.

I appreciated that they were allowed to bring some life and personality to their strut, smiling and winking at the crowd as they walked. Sessilee Lopez even modeled with her hands on her hips, swaying them from side-to-side.

The front row was just as star-studded with industry legends, Sex and the City wardrobe stylist, Patricia Field, American Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington, The Washington Post’s Robin Givhan and Elle Magazine’s Joe Zee absorbing the fashions.

Youth, vibrance and luxury were the prominent themes of the Zac Posen Fall 2010 collection. A study in exquisite tailoring and proportions, the collection encompassed lavish colored furs, flouncy printed dresses, swing coats and sleek 40’s style pantsuits. The color palette vacillated between bursts of purple, hot pink and mustard hues and more neutralized tones of camel. Textures were free and adventurous with velvet pantsuits and fur booties.

Noticeably absent, however, were the opulent, lavish gowns that are almost synonymous with Zac Posen’s design aesthetic. In what can be interpreted as an answer to the February 3rd New York Times article which chronicled the designer’s financial troubles, Zac Posen offered a wearable collection that is sure to sell out in the stores. This coupled with his lower-priced Z Spoke line and collection for Target should be enough to restore the designer to commercial success. Though Fall 2010 is less elaborate than previous seasons, I can personally attest that Zac Posen’s runway shows are still as extravagant as ever.

xo

Jessica