A FASHIONISTA'S HOLIDAY IN NEW YORK (c) By Polly Guerin

Atelier D'Ora 1922

This just in…Fashion week in New York is all a buzz at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park, COCKTAIL HATS at the Met Opera Gift Shop, Tokyo Fashion Fiesta at FIT, and the Opium Kimono at NEUE. Only in New York, my friends, Only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
CHAPEAU EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!

Ellen Christine Couture Millinery introduces her take on the iconic cocktail hat of the 1950’s reinvented and with brand new bravado in her “Diva Collection” introduced at the Metropolitan Opera House’s gift shop. Her collection fuses history, fashion and high drama in hat concoctions that sit on the pretty heads of models and would be starlets. These hat creations are destined to capture opera patrons’ desire to own something as we say, “je ne sais pas,” something marvelous, so tempting that they are irresistible. Visit her at 99 Van Dam St. 4E by appointment. admin@ellenchristine.com.
HERE WE GO AGAIN, IT’S FASHION WEEK IN NEW YORK

But it’s not the same old song there’s a rash of young, vibrant designers showing their collections in a show-packed and heady pace with trends galore to suit everyone’s fashion fantasies from true to bone classics to minimalism and way out kooky renditions for clubby fashionistas. Quite frankly there’s something for everyone. Art Deco aficionados may remember Sonia Delaunay’s iconic geometric, architectural blocked dresses which perhaps inspired BCBG Max Azria’s collection where the color-blocked dresses had a nice modern verve. Effortless chic turned heads at St. John and the lush life took to luxurious furs and trims and chunky knits. For full coverage of New York Fashion Week. See www.com/fashion.shows-reviews.
TOKYO FASHION FIESTA NEW YORK PART-2

For an exotic, extraordinary fashion sensation go to Cosplay fashion show with costumes inspired by j-subculture, manga, and anime featuring brands, Putumayo, Rion, Visual-kei and more, a hair and makeup demonstration and lecture by Akiko , Yumiko and Fujiko on how to make hair and makeup for Gothic, Lolita, Cosplay, gal fashion style).All this followed by a tea party reception. February 17 at 6 p.m. Katie Murphy Amphitheater at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Seventh Avenue at 27th St. Registration required: email museuminfo@fit.edu. Or call 212.217.4585.
NEUE GALERIE DESIGN SHOP’S OPIUM KIMONO

Very intoxicating this unique kimono gives you an opportunity to own a piece of fashion art crafted with centuries-old modes of craftsmanship. In conjunction with the Neue Galerie’s upcoming exhibition, “Vienna 1900,” the Design Shop has collaborated with renowned textile designer Madeline Weinrib to create an exclusive kimono, tailored from a hand-woven ikat silk/cotton fabric, inspired by an image from Viennese photographer Madame d’Ora, 1922 pictured. Each kimono is a hand-sewn collectible unites Weinrib’s sensibility as a painter with the Opium pattern, an exclusive available in the Museum’s Design Shop. www.neuegalerie.org.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I covet one of those jaunty little hats by Ellen Christine. Next time you’ll see me wearing one. Fan mail to: www.pollytalk.com and go to www.pollytalk.com and click on any one of the links to my Blogs in the left hand column. My latest posting “A Space of Your Own” appeared in http://www.awakenyoursleepingbeautyedgarcayce.blogspot.com.