Fashion Corner

IF ever there was a dress up day on the front rows of New York Fashion Week,as the kings of high maintenance gloss and polish - Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors - showed their inimitable take on city style for spring/summer 2009.

At Kors, a day on the lake proved the jumping off point for nautical-inspired show Triple A: Architectural, Athletic, American, which was bursting with cheery oversized red polka dots, surfboard-inspired stripes and “sails” of fabric trailing from the back of dresses. For those after hours moments, chic anoraks came thrown over prom-style cocktail dresses.

In a somewhat more subdued palette of oyster, blush, avocado and navy punctuated with Ikat prints and lavish ruffles, de la Renta gave his fans plenty to lust after with a collection bursting with classically tailored skirt suits and easy, breezy full-length skirts perfect for lunching. Of special note were the accessories, huge waist-cinching belts and lunchbox-shaped handbags that are sure to sellout before they even hit the shelves.

Less demure - but by no means less covetable - were Anna Sui’s earth-toned embroidered shell tops and ethnic-printed strapless dresses; the embellished navy mini skirt suit sported by Agyness was one of the best we’ve seen for the season so far.