During Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, designer Mimi Plange showcased her collection entitled “Labrynth” at a 5th Avenue penthouse with breathtaking views. This private residence was the ideal setting for Plange’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. The elegant presentation boasted art installations, a classical violinist, and beautifully poised set design.

Mathieu Mirano showed in New York for the very first time at The Box at Lincoln Center last February. His was a presentation full of Chinese inspirations and bold colors of red and shiny gold; other colors consisted of more muted tones ranging from browns, blacks, and blues.

Held at the EYEBEAM Atelier in New York City, designer Rolando Santana recaptured the mood of the 70s by his variety of sequins, silk lamé, and modern embroideries.

Mila Hermonovski from Project Runway Season 7 and the first season of Project Runway-All Stars premiered a new collection during Fall/Winter 2012 LA Fashion Week. Mila has an impressive background of assisting Calvin Klein as a design assistant. This show was Mila’s chance to prove herself to the Los Angeles market again. Did she prove herself in the end? Well, yes and no.

“Our inspiration was Loulou de la Falaise. She was a fashion icon, and whatever she threw on, she looked like the best-dressed person in the room. She did everything from bohemian to French to military. She could pull anything off with her confidence and her natural style.” —St. John Designer George Sharp

LK Paris has come up with a new collection called “Couture to Wear.” I found the name to be catchy and appealing. After all, couture is associated with high maintenance, expensive dry cleaning bills, and careful handling. Upon close inspection, the garments in this collection are impeccably sewn and surprisingly durable. The price points are nowhere near couture. In fact, they would definitely be comparable to the “special occasion” wear at a Bloomingdale’s or any other high-end luxury department store.

During Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Agenda Magazine made its way backstage before the show. I was able to interview the key hair and makeup people, plus I got a bonus when top model Cecily Lopez spoke with me candidly about her career.

Octavio Carlin showcased an elegant yet simplistic collection during Style Fashion Week LA at Vibiana. He presented a collection that showed a variation on cocktail dresses consisting of jersey, slinky, hip hugging skirts with horizontal striped tops . . . a play on the athletic influenced trend for spring.

Furne One’s Spring 2012 collection made its way un-chaperoned to Los Angeles at Vibiana during Style Fashion Week LA. That’s right. The designer was home in Dubai while his collection received mixed reviews here. The collection left some raving and others ranting; and some of those rants turned into raised voices literally on the media riser.

Rear projected cinematic, interchanging backgrounds of nature and the outdoors created the scene for the Gypsy 05 2012 collection at Vibiana during Style Fashion Week LA. The fashion show opened with eclectic music and ritualistic choreography in the form of modern dance: our dancer’s face had white war paint, and she wore a loose fitting tunic. She put on a convincing performance and set the bohemian stage for what was to become a very enjoyable runway experience.