Business & Finance Club - Fashion : For Tommy Hilfiger's 25th anniversary fashion show there was plenty of fanfare. A faux grass runway! Jennifer Lopez! Bradley Cooper! Lenny Kravitz! A huge afterparty at the Metropolitan Opera House with a performance from The Strokes! But the clothes that were on the catwalk were, somewhat surprisingly, straightforward and wearable."I really strive for all-American cool," Hilfiger said in a pre-show interview. In his notes, he cited rockabilly and country clubs, with a twist of audacious colour, patterns and proportions.It's the aesthetic that, since recommitting to it a few seasons ago, Hilfiger has really owned.On the women's side, the best looks were the casual. He offered eyelet tennis skirts, varsity-tipped sweaters, sunny halters and fitted, feminine button-down shirts. A khaki-coloured halter dress with a tie-style back was a nod to the trench trend this season, but a young, sassy version.The menswear seemed to have more mixed results. Seersucker was a worthwhile gamble, even in a shorts suit, given that hipsters recently have taken a liking to the gentlemanly fabric. But pink bow-ties and leopard loafers?

Donna Karan

Donna Karan presented a runway almost completely in shades of sand to capture the essence of "raw romance."

From billowy, featherweight dresses to tailored jackets in a stiff metallic twill, the common theme of each piece _ other than the palette _ was a celebration of a strong, confident muse. This woman really could be anyone: young or old, petite or glamazon, working mom or globe-trotter.

When Karan hits it right with her signature line, it's all about speaking to the potential of the women who wear it. She has hit her stride in recent seasons and she extended that streak into next spring, although surely the retailers in the audience wished to see a little more color.

But it was the use of skin tones, from dark to light, that was so effective in conveying a sense of the natural. The sheer trend that's been seen on the runways got its due in slip dresses and a finale gown made of pale gold tulle that disappeared on the model save a pattern of glittery beading.

Whitney Eve

Calling all sophisticated, career-oriented girls: Whitney Port wants to dress you. The star of The City presented her spring 2011 collection on Saturday for her line Whitney Eve and it was all bright, airy and very feminine.

"Girls are looking for something that can go from day to night," she said. "I tried to provide something for everyone they are comfortable with."

There was a black and pink striped short dress, while another model wore olive green harem pants that were tapered at the ankle with a black and white striped blazer on top of a black and white polka dot short top that revealed a little stomach.

Pssst: The Whitney Eve collection is available at the new Symphony store in Dubai Mall, and we have it on good authority that the starlet herself will be heading to our shores in the not-too-distant future.

Max Azria

Max Azria reminded the New York Fashion Week insiders — and hopefully some shoppers, too— that skin isn't always the key to sexiness. The clothes Azria previewed on Sunday for his signature collection had a sensuality and sophistication that largely came from the ease of the silhouettes. So many of the dresses grazed the body and had such delicate straps that it was almost as if the models wrapped themselves in georgette or crepe sheets and were merely holding it all together with their fingertips. Even pants were fluid and draped, reminiscent of old-school, glamorous loungewear.

Adam

How about a little light with your white? Fashion designer Adam Lippes certainly put that order in with his spring collection, creating an effortless-yet-relatable vibe. And, for good measure, there was some navy and khaki tossed into his preview at New York Fashion Week, as well as peach, copper and denim, which is slowly but surely making a return to the runways.Lippes' looks, shown at Lincoln Center on Saturday, had a bit of a country-club feel, but this wasn't your mother's club: It was one where a sheer cotton voile shirt was paired with white denim sailor pants, and a textured linen blazer complemented a buttery leather skirt.

Zero by Maria Cornejo

Chilean-born Maria Cornejo went back to her roots and mixed her South American heritage with urban chic. At Zero " Maria Cornejo, it was all about volume and draping, with many looks giving a modern, cutting-edge vibe in mostly black, white and graphite, mixed with some pistachio and coral. There were also prints including a marble print, a tribal one and another with a meshy feel. But it was the use of drapery and volume that made the clothes stand out."We are always looking for our heritage," she said. "I like colour. I like the easiness. I like life."