Well, this is definitely not your mother’s J Crew. Or mine, even.

Jenna Lyons has done it again, this time transforming the prepster cool looks into an almost unrecognizable mashup of prints, color, and texture. Familiar highlighter pinks and citrus tones make their return for Spring. They bring with them familiar J Crew standbys like chambray, slubby silks, and sequined stripes. The styling was part Tory and just a touch menswear…if you peered really deep, you can see a little bit of 2011′s Spring J Crew peeking through.

Was it tailored? Yes.

Playful? Yes.

J Crew? I’m not so sure.

Ms. Lyons has thrown me for a loop this time. Is this another J Crew revolution or just an update to their current recipe for success? I’m going to have to let this one sink in for a little bit. What’s your initial reaction?

Read the original Fashion Week: J Crew Spring/Summer 2012 on Chic Shopper Chick.

I’m sorry, but was there a convention for the completely chic that I was not invited to? I’m just gonna go ahead and say it, I. DIE. Die.

My mouth is hanging open like Eli Manning at a press conference. I cannot get over this collection!

From dressy elegance to casual cool, every single look was a win. Fluid fabrics worked seamlessly back to tough leathers, chunky knits, and structured shapes. Bold hued looks were grounded by all white, ethereal ensembles. This collection is totally glam, utterly cool, and very, very wearable.

Which look is your favorite? Clearly, I’m having trouble deciding.

Read the original Fashion Week: Rachel Zoe Spring/Summer 2012 on Chic Shopper Chick.

The Spring collection from Marc by Marc Jacobs was surpsringly simple. Bold, bright, feminine-all typical of MMJ, but the simplicity had me scratching my head. The looks had very few prints, just a tiny bit of whimsy, and were relatively plain. This divergence from the expected lent quite a bit of sophistication to the collection, with MMJ being a line that has traditionally been marketed to the Contemporary market.

Is simplicity a bad thing? I say no. The interest in this collection is found in its dramatic shapes, beautiful folds, and eye-cathcing brights. The A-line shapes, perhaps a nod to the 80s and 90s mood we are currently seeing in fashion, make the skirts and dresses completely wearable for a variety of customers. Clean, crisp, and smooth-Marc threw me for a loop but had my heart in the end.

Read the original Fashion Week: Marc by Marc Jacobs Summer/Spring 2012 on Chic Shopper Chick.

Standout looks were: a striped suit comprised of a long blazer and skinny, cropped pants; the combination of a Baja hoodie and gold flared trousers; and a delicate tea-length silk dress with coral beading at the neckline that hearkened back to Burch designs of season’s past. The 70’s vibe was present all the way down to the accessories. Models wore ankle strap platforms, clogs and espadrilles, while carrying accessories in bold colors as well as some throwback styles in wicker.

Burch took a new approach with her presentation this year. She first showcased a runway show with an limited group of press and then the models lined up for a stationary presentation that allowed press and buyers to get up close and personal with the product. Whether traipsing down the catwalk or standing still, these looks were totally Tory and totally chic.

Read the original Tory Burch Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

Breaking away from the light pink and tan colors he used last spring, Kostetsos made gold and blue the dominating colors of the collection, giving it an air of ancient royalty fit for the goddess Athena herself.

Many of the pieces were neutral colored dresses that danced along the model and were adorned with Greek images, such as vases and Greek women.

Scales also accentuated the collection, giving the pieces life and movement while adding amazon flare to pieces that were otherwise rather simple. Swimwear, dresses, and jackets can all be found intensely decorated. The jacket below also displays elongated shoulder pads, which were also a key part of his collection.

Kostetsos graces America’s fashion with the inspiration of his home, Athens. Each piece displays the blood of his ancestors, while likewise intertwining modern fashions fit for the streets as well.

Read the original Vassilios Kostetsos Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

Watching the first few looks, I couldn’t help but scream “I love gooolllldd!”

Read the original Elie Tahari Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

For Custo Dalamau, the designer behind the Custo Barcelona line, there is obviously no such thing as a solid color. But who needs solids when you can strut fabulously in mixed prints? Whoever says that you can’t mix your polka dots and stripes has obviously not seen what Dalamau is capable of. Patterns were ingeniously assembled into one coherent piece that is surely built to turn heads.

In a hat tip to the seventies, feathers and fringe also dominated the runway, giving each piece movement and boldness (as if the colors and patterns weren’t already attention-grabbing in and of themselves). Feathers were found on tops, bottoms, shoulders – you name it. Likewise, fringe was everywhere – including swimwear.

Dalamau managed to combine geometric shapes with the antithesis of flowing feathers and fringe, creating an avant-garde collection fit for anyone desiring to command attention. He received a thunderous applause from the queen of fabulosity herself, Miss Kimora Lee, alongside a few other celebrities who graced the front row.

Do you think the line is a hit, or a miss?

Read the original Custo Barcelona Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

Another notable deviation from her tried-and-true formula was the presence of a wide variety of pants in varying proportions, styles and colors. The silhouettes, from skinny crops to harems to walking shorts were done in fabrications that ranged from super sexy to work appropriate. High-waisted shorts in a quirky brown filigree print stood out among the sea of solid bottoms. She sent them down with a top and jacket in contrasting patterns, but I simply envisioned them with one of the gorgeous solid silk blouses that crept up in almost every look.

Can we attribute the fresh deviations among the classic DvF looks to her new design partnership with Yvan Mispelaere? Perhaps. In this case, I think that two heads are better than one, and apparently so does Diane. You go, girl.

Read the original Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

Rowley presented a palette of muted blues and other pastels, but playfully spiced things up with a few pops of heavily saturated mustard and coral. One of my favorite looks from the show was a belted mustard top paired with shorts that looked as if they had been embellished with giant pieces of dot candy (below, right).

It seems that this season white is the new black, and most of my favorite looks from Rowley this season were indeed in white. A wispy white dress with a sheer black jacket stole the remainder of the show.

The entire show had a very 70′s mod feel to it, with overly boxy shift dresses and slim fitting pants. The sheer paneling and overlay had the effect of making some of the more feminine pieces a bit more edgy, instead of making them seem more feminine.

What do you think of Cynthia Rowley’s Spring 2011 Collection? Do you think that the collection has commercial legs?

Read the original Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

The show started with lots of white, accessorized with Siriano’s own line of shoes from Payless. The looks were strong, very conscious of the female form, and quite often very romantic (I love the tulip hemline in the middle look, above.) The collection was inspired by Africa, India, and China which was evident in the towering wooden cutout heels (and one rather suspicious brocade suit in a safari print).

I wasn’t feeling the leather looks, though the dress above isn’t as painful as I suppose it could be. The shorts on the right however are definitely a miss. The prints that Siriano paired with these looks however, was exquisite.

Siriano really shines when it comes to his breathtaking and unwaveringly feminine gowns. I can only imagine that when the gown on the left hit the runway, there was lots of all-around sighing and about a bazillion flashbulbs going off. I love that he paired a metallic faux-croc skin print with a soft, billowy cascade of ruffles. If I were a Disney Princess, that’s the dress I’d request. Also of mention, the fabulous print mentioned above fashioned into a full-on gown. Hello, awards season!

Of course, I couldn’t leave out a photo of the showpiece in all of it’s overwhelming ruffled glory. Way too much in my book, and destined to never be worn beyond the runway, but certainly dramatic and oddly satisfying.

So what do you think? Siriano – over the top or can’t live without? For me, I think it’s a little of both.

Read the original Christian Siriano Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

Some of the super short dresses were extended a bit with a gossamer fabric layered underneath – a trick that fashion photographer Anna Sabino taught me about a year ago by layering longer, sheer dresses underneath shorter dresses. The sheer fabrics weren’t reserved for under the dresses – several of the pieces featured an overlay which I felt like gave the pieces an ultra-feminine appeal.

White, grey, and black were the prevailing color trends, with pops of mustard, coral, and rose making brief appearances. Overall I thought the collection was a standout – light and airy, featuring lots of beautiful asymmetrical lines.

So what do you think of the collection? Would you wear any of the pieces?

Read the original BCBG Max Azria Spring 2011: Runway Rundown on Chic Shopper Chick.

About a week and a half later, they got back to me with said details – I was being asked to walk in a Fashion Show, hosted by Kelly Ripa, on September 8th, along with nine other incredible fashion bloggers.

Oh. Emm. Gee.

I was being asked to wa…hold on while I gather my composure and pretend like I don’t think this is a big deal.

So, tomorrow, September 8th, I will be exuberantly crossing something off of my bucket list by walking in a runway show – something I had pretty much filed under the bucket list category of “Don’t Be Absurd Erika, You Will Never Get To Do This But Since This Is A Bucket List You May As Well Write It Down”. I know what you’re thinking so I’ll just go ahead and acknowledge that yes, I know I should probably work on shortening my category titles but hey, IT’S MY LIST PEOPLE.

So where was I? Oh, right.

HOLY SCHNIKES, I’M GOING TO BE IN A FASHION SHOW.

(Why did I eat french fries for dinner last night?!)

Walking in the show hasn’t been all glitz and glamour – it came with a challenge: create the perfect white-hot weekend look for the runway, polished with teal accessories (teal is the official color of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month). Naturally, I whined a bit – it was the end of summer, so how would I ever find something in white that is suitable for a RUNWAY?! Oh, and did I mention that I live in LA – as in LOUISIANA? Home of if-you-can’t-get-it-at-a-department-store-you-can’t-get-it-anywhere, sugah?

Luckily, after THREE very intense shopping excursions and at least one whiny phone call to LA Stylist Mom (who lives in the real LA, people) I found myself with two very viable options, a delicately draped strapless dress from White House Black Market, and a Grecian-inspired Calvin Klein dress that I purchased months ago but have never had the occasion to wear. My original intention was to wear the dress from White House Black Market but after speaking to Mindy, the stylist for the event, on the phone – I decided to bring both options and see what worked the best for the show. I’m not sure what dress I’ll actually be wearing in the show yet, though I will find out today – but you’ll have to tune in to the show live on September 8th to see the final look!

Strapless Drape Blouson Dress from White House Black Market

So, returning back to the important part of this article, and the whole reason that I have this opportunity; beginning on September 8th (that’s tomorrow!) you can help to do your part to support this very worthy cause as well. Ovarian Cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer in US women, and The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2010, 21,880 women will be diagnosed with it, and 13,850 women will die from the disease. (via OCRF.org). By visiting the Wash ‘n Care lounge at Kelly Confidential, you can support the cause by entering to win a Perfect Steam washer and dryer from Electrolux, as well as a daily shopping spree. Each time that you enter by pressing the Perfect Steam button at Kelly Confidential, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

In addition, if you’d like to watch me potentially make a fool out of myself on the runway, simply by looking gloriously happy to be struttin’ my stuff, you can watch the live stream of the show at Kelly Confidential or on the Kelly Confidential Facebook Page. The show will be live on September 8th at 1 pm Eastern time (for those of you counting backwards, that’s 12 pm Central, 11 am Mountain, 10 am Pacific).

You should definitely watch. I’ll do a little wink, and you’ll know it’s just for you.

For now, good night from New York City, the home of fashion and NYFW, where for one delicious season I will be on the runway and not in the audience. Wish me luck (I need it!).

(My participation in the ‘Rumpled to Runway’ Campaign was sponsored by Electrolux, who provided me with a $150 stipend to style my look as well as travel arrangements to and accommodations in New York to participate.)

Read the original Rumpled to Runway or Oh. Emm. Gee. I’m in a Fashion Show! on Chic Shopper Chick.

The sleek lines and mesh cut outs of the dress worn by Kardashian were inspired by both the Futurism movement that originated in Italy during the early 20th century and the female form. Harper’s designs seamlessly incorporate both draping and tailoring, and have garnered lots of attention in the fashion industry for so beautifully enhancing the female figure.

I had the opportunity to meet Harper during the run of Project Runway’s 6th season, and I immediately found her kind and generous nature to be incredibly refreshing – especially in an industry that is so often overrun with elitism and entitlement. Harper continues to design in a very distinct style, as the self-designed dress that she was wearing when I met her also incorporated incredible lines and mesh cutouts, much like the one seen on Kim above.

I’m thrilled to see Harper finding so much success and continuing to follow her passion beyond Project Runway and I’m eager to see the debut of her 2011 S/S collection next month.

Read the original Project Runway’s Althea Harper Steps It Up on Chic Shopper Chick.

I’M IN NYC AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK!

(Are your ears ringing from my loud shrieking?)

Lifetime has given Audrey and I the opportunity of a lifetime (no pun intended) by sending us to New York to cover Fashion Week for Lifetime Moms. We will be updating our coverage every day on Lifetime Moms, and if you head over there to comment then you can win one of five $200 CASH prizes (that’s cold, hard cash people!!) just for leaving us a comment! That’s it! Simple!

In the meantime, you should check out our video recap from yesterday, when we attended Carolina Herrera, Jill Stuart, and Donna Karan. They were all breathtaking, but, well, you can hear more about them if you watch the video below!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week September 14th Recap from Erika Lehmann on Vimeo.

Read the original Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (And I’m THERE!!) on Chic Shopper Chick.