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Venexiana Fall 2009
Where & When: Friday February 13th at 9 p.m., the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: Recession? What recession? Designer Kati Stern, who apparently has never met an exotic material she hasn't liked, sent mink, fox and python (yes, python) down her runway, and that was just the first three looks. But then came the party dresses, and that's what Stern does best. Inspired by the city of Venice (the designer resides there part time), came gowns in heavy velvet, brocade, and metallic wool, as well as an interlude of pretty pastel gowns in Fortuny pleats. I can't even begin to imagine who wears this stuff, but my guess is that Stern's clients are those mystical recession-proof people we keep hearing about--and they must've liked what they saw, because the audience gave Stern a standing ovation as she did her runway bow.
Standout Look: Stern sent several soft, pastel and relatively understated gowns down the runway, and while they were kind of a detour from the opulence of the rest of the show, I thought they were among the most accessible pieces. My favorite was this plissé empire-waist gown, a sweet and youthful piece.
Bonus Points: Ahead of me in line was a well-behaved "class" of what looked to be college-age (or maybe high school) girls, and the security guards made sure they were allowed in first of all the standing room. I thought that was sweet.
Where to Buy: Visit katisternvenexiana.com.

Venexiana Spring 2009
Where & When: Friday, September 5th at 9 p.m., the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: Rosettes and peplums and Marilyn collars--oh my! While a large percentage of Kati Stern's eveningwear collection suffered from too-much-fabric syndrome, her bias-cut gowns in pastel colors and prints were sure to delight anyone's inner girly-girl. Or at least one's bridesmaids.
Standout Look: This crystal-encrusted drop-waist dress looked completely different than pretty much every other dress in the show, due to its youthful, pretty-bohemian look. Love the braid-crown 'do too.
Bonus Points: Somehow I got let in early with some of the show's sponsors, thereby avoiding a wait with all of the drunks in the cattle pen. Sometimes it's the little things that really count.
Where to Buy: See website for details.

Venexiana by Kati Stern Fall 2008
Where & When: Friday, February 1st at 9 p.m. in the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: The 9 o'clock shows are always a toss-up--people are either exhausted from having been at shows all day, or they're drunk from hitting the tents' corporate-sponsored bars. I think the audience at Venexiana fell into the latter category, as they seemed incredibly enthusiastic about the collection, even giving the designer a standing ovation. I'm not quite sure why. Stern could have benefited from some editing--the show had a whopping 62 looks, many with Swarovski crystals and/or fur accents. And apparently she has not met a luxe fabric she hasn't liked, because she piled 'em on--fur! lamé! brocade! metallic lace! metallic tweed!--all at once. There's a difference between putting on a show and putting on a spectacle.
Standout Look: The best pieces were a series of 1930s bias-cut gowns and dresses, and this satin style was, thankfully, downright simple and elegant.
Bonus Points: I had my first, and hopefully not my last, sighting of everyone's favorite "noted fashion photographer," Nigel Barker.
Where to Buy: See website for details