Cheryl Shops

Where & When: Saturday, September 12th at 11 a.m., the Promenade, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: Lebanese-born designer Georges Chakra boasts couture training, and his Edition line, which launched last season, is his way to bring those refined techniques to the ready-to-wear market. Today he presented a rather robust collection of 46 evening looks, which ran the gamut from bright citrus-colored crepe gowns to sequined asymmetrical little black dresses. The most interesting looks played with a hard-and-soft contrast, pairing geometric, architectural details and hardware with filmy chiffon and lightly draped crepe and satin. I expect these dresses to be popular with socialites, who actually have multiple occasions to which to wear these gowns, but for the rest of us, it's always fun to dream.
Standout Look: Sometimes I pick my favorite look after scrolling through my photos, but other times I know it as soon as it comes down the runway, and the latter is how I felt about this shocking yellow lamé gown, detailed with asymmetrical crisscrossing silver leather trim. A definite statement-maker, it's certainly not a look for a wallflower. Which, in these days when bland red-carpet dresses proliferate, is a good thing.
Bonus Points: It's not much, but I was seated directly across the runway from The Real Housewives of New York's Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, and Simon van Kempen, all of whom chatted amicably throughout the show.
Where to Buy: Click here for stores.