Tommy and Dee Hilfiger

When Tommy Hilfiger took his bow on the runway Thursday night at Bryant Park, he closed a 17-year run on New York's busiest runway-show spot. The last designer to present his collection at the Tents before New York Fashion Week moves to Lincoln Center, Hilfiger took the opportunity to celebrate with an emotional speech - and, of course, a dance party after that.

In front of a celeb-heavy front row (Ashley Olsen, Penn Badgley and Rosario Dawson were there), Hilfiger showed a collection of preppy styles with a kick. Neutrals like camel and dove grey were punctuated with berry red. Kilt skirts were amped up to full volume, and evening gowns were made daring with billowing ruffles and thigh-high slits. Hilfiger - with consultation from Peter Som - turned out American fashion at its most comforting. And that made a perfect goodbye to BP.

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Designer Michelle Smith called her AW10 collection for Milly "Classique = Moderne," and like many designers this season, her style is all about mixing. She blended old with new, Upper East Side with just-rolled-out-of-bed party princess, hard with soft - and we bet it'll work at the stores this fall.

Smith took reference from the artsy types in director Jean-Luc Godard's films, which, to the designer, required "bold hues; clean, modern silhouettes; and feminine, cool attitude." We especially noticed that combination in a shocking-pink charmeuse bow blouse teamed with a gathered-jersey miniskirt, and a black wool boucle skirt suit with a cream ruffled blouse and gold gloves. Smith's uptown-with-a-twist aesthetic worked on the runway, and the show's styling even made us like coloured tights again.

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AnnaLynne McCord, Max Azria and Melissa George

Looks like Max Azria already has two fans - though we wonder what his wife, Lubov, had to say about all the admiration at the couple's third show this week at Bryant Park. The Azrias started last Thursday with the BCBG show, then moved to Hervé Léger on Sunday, followed by the pair's 4-year-old brand, Max Azria, on Tuesday. The Max Azria show channeled rich minimalism in a palette of black, grey, tan and ivory, and delivered streamlined dresses and separates that still managed to play with texture.

Ask the designers, and the collection was about "poetic means of self-expression." We saw a natural progression from the recent sci-fi trend in colour-blocked black and beige knit dresses, and found the sheer panels used in some floor-length black frocks more bearable than last season's altogether see-through pieces. What's more, as the grunge trend fades, we think said frocks will give comfort to harder-edged girls who need to drop the studs and spikes and dress up. All in all, a solid collection from designers who arguably had a busier time than anyone this fashion week.

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“I am weak for the back of a lady,” Georges Chakra told us backstage before his runway show at Bryant Park. “It’s very sensual and sophisticated.” That explains the cut-outs, sheer panels and backless styles for his third Edition by Georges Chakra collection. The haute couture designer’s latest ready-to-wear range is full of colourful chiffon dresses – some toughened up with dark strips of grosgrain – and Chakra’s own take on tuxedos.

“It’s nice to play with the smoking – it’s about the contrast between feminine and masculine,” Chakra said. Pairing a hard-edged jacket with a black lace skirt, or moving the buttons of a smoking jacket to the back achieved just the balance he strove to meet. With awards season in full swing, we expect a starlet or two will be calling Chakra to arrange a red-carpet styling session. If you ask him, the "chiffon dresses will do the job."

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Although New York Fashion Week is now in full swing, a dark cloud continues to hang over the air at Bryant Park after yesterday's announcement of the untimely death of Alexander McQueen.

The designer's stores in both London and New York have had their windows covered, and the ground has quickly been adorned with flowers and tributes from fans and passers-by. According to Fashionologie, Barneys reportedly sold more than 500 McQueen scarves since the sad announcement was made, and many press and buyers will reportedly cut their New York trip down to rush to London in light of the news.

Over the course of the day, many shows have started with a one-minute silence of rememberance, and Kate Moss has reportedly cancelled the Longchamp party she was set to host to launch her new collaboration with the brand.

As the fashion world continues to mourn for McQueen, industry figures continue to leave tribute messages expressing their grief.

Donatella Versace: "Alexander McQueen...The fashion world has not only lost an icon but we have also lost a very special friend"

Philip Treacy: "In a world where every man and his dog is a designer, Alexander McQueen was the real deal. His talent was supersonic."

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This season's forthcoming fashion week,marks the end of the Bryant Park era as the troops prepare to head to their new home at the Lincoln Centre. In celebration of the move, the CDFA hosted a soiree at Diane Von Furstenberg's studio, and Anna Wintour was on hand to share her views on the impending move saying, "I'm looking forward to it. I wish it was next week." Well luckily for her, and the rest of the fash pack, all good things come to those who wait and the wait will soon be over - as of September they can expect to take up their front row seats for the Spring 2011 collections and toast new beginnings.

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