Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will kick off with Michael Angel followed by BCBGMAXAZRIA, Duckie Brown, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Cynthia Steffe, Yigal Azrouel, Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, Academy of Art University, Christian Siriano, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vivienne Tam, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Thuy, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, TonyCohen, Gottex, Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Toni Maticevski, Pamella Roland, MAX AZRIA, Dennis Basso, Willow, Tibi, Narciso Rodriguez, Toni Francesc, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly by Michelle Smith, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Trias, Calvin Klein, Chocheng, Argentinean Designer Collections and Tommy Hilfiger.

READ MORE ABOUT: 3.1 phillip lim, Academy of Art University, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Andy & Debb, anna sui, Argentinean Designer Collections, Badgley Mischka, bcbgmaxazria, brian reyes, calvin klein, carlos miele, Carolina Herrera, Cesar Galindo, chado ralph rucci, charlotte ronson, Chocheng, christian siriano, Custo Barcelona, cynthia steffe, Dennis Basso, derek lam, Diane Von Furstenberg, DKNY, Donna Karan, Doo. ri, Duckie Brown', Georges Chakra, Gottex, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, isaac mizrahi, jill stuart, lacoste, Lela Rose, max azria, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, michael angel, michael kors, Milly by Michelle Smith, Nanette Lepore, narciso rodriguez, Nicole Miller, Pamella Roland, ports 1961, ralph lauren, Rebecca Taylor, Tadashi Shoji, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Thuy, tibi, tommy hilfiger, Toni Francesc, TONI MATICEVSKI, TonyCohen, tory burch, Tracy Reese, Trias, Tuleh, venexiana, Vivienne Tam, Willow, yeohlee, Yigal Azrou?l

With their Fall ‘09 collections having hit the runway, we’re expecting just as great of a show for Spring 2010 from these top 20 designers.

MAINSTREAMERS

Alexander McQueen:

Each of McQueen’s Fall ‘09 pieces were sculpted to perfection to create forms in unique patterns and versatile shapes.

Marc Jacobs:

Marc Jacobs was all about the bright colors with this collection. Grabbing inspiration from 80s fashion, the neon hues and big shoulders were a hit on the runway.

Prada:

With fur shapes, wool suits, and some knee high boots, Prada styles hit the runway in edgy fashion

Balenciaga:

With draped satin and silk, paired with fitted tops and flowy dresses, the Balenciaga collection was all about luxury and versatility.

Louis Vuitton:

Bubble skirts, coats, and a ton of accessories marched down the runway for Louis Vuitton Fall’09, of course, bright colors added that perfect touch on all pieces.

Donna Karan:

Fitted coats and long skirts accessorized with belts and necklaces produced a strong collection for Donna Karan this fall.

Alexander Wang:

Focusing mostly on blacks and whites, Alexander Wang explored much more with textures for fall ‘09. With each style paired with a matching accessory models looked the part from head to toe.

Moschino:

Ruffles and roses were at the forefront of Moschino’s line up for this Fall ‘09 collection. Navy and black dresses with a hint of red adds that special something to each piece.

Roberto Cavalli:

Lace leggings, fur jackets, and knitted fabrics were all part of Roberto Cavalli’s image for Fall ‘09.

Lanvin:

Leave it to Lanvin to let loose black gloves and intriguing silhouettes down the runway. With dresses and coats in beige, black, and white, the designer remembers the excitement of color with the occasional spark of red.

Proenza Schouler:

Though many designers stuck to inspiration of the past for Fall ‘09, Proenza Schouler kept it modern for the runway. High necks and fitted coats were all a part of the designers vision for the season.

Alexandre Herchcovitch:

Alexandre Herchcovitch was all about the idea of chaos for his fall ‘09 collection. Taking inspiration from big cities, multi-textured coats and printed dresses marched down the runway.

THE INDIE TEAM

A. F. Vandevorst:

For Fall ‘09 A.F. Vandevorst dreamt-up silk dresses and fur vests colored in quite a specific scheme. With trenches in variations of beige, green, and black it’s clear that this collection was one of a kind.

ADAM:

Releasing an array of colorful styles, ADAM put forth bright, upbeat separates for Fall ‘09.

Erdem:

It was all about embroidery and intense color for Erdem’s Fall ‘09 collection; lace and satin worked together to create ensembles fit for the runway.

Haider Ackermann:

With flowy dresses under more fitted and architectural coats, Haider Ackermann found that perfect line to combine edge and sophistication.

Ann Demeulemeester:

Stiff black works combined with soft white dresses allowed Ann Demeulemeester to explore the importance of balance for Fall ‘09.

Rodarte:

Working with pale schemes, leathers, and silk-screened styles, Rodarte lead a flood of breathe-taking dresses and skirts down the catwalk.

Phi:

Zippers and sequins were among Phi’s best looks for the Fall ‘09 season. Edgy styles made it clear that the collection was really for the strong and independent woman.

Albino:

Focusing on geometric shapes and silk dresses, bronze, black, and even a few bright-colored numbers made a strong statement when they took the runway.

READ MORE ABOUT: a.f. vandevorst, Adam, Albino, alexander mcqueen, alexander wang, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, Donna Karan, erdem, fall 09, Haider Ackermann, lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, moschino, PHI, Prada, proenza schouler, roberto cavalli, rodarte, Spring 2010

When was the last time you heard of someone bringing philanthropy, commerce and fashion together to raise awareness and inspire change? In today’s economy, such altruists may be few and far between, but rest assured, that someone exists in Pankaj Shah, the founder and CEO of Tonic. With a heart of good intentions and luck in his back pocket, Shah stumbled into the fashion world, collaborating with designers Luella Bartley and Tara Subkoff on t-shirts promoting non-profit organizations and social good.

Though Shah pegs himself to be fashion-senseless, his overall worldly awareness mission recently snagged Donna Karan and her charity, The Urban Zen Foundation, for the most recent of Tonic’s collaborations. Starting today, a variety of eco-friendly t-shirts, sold exclusively on Tonic.com, go on sale to promote and support four main causes: Well Being, Save Our Planet, Preserving Cultures and Future For Our Children. 

10% of each shirt sold will go to both, The Urban Zen Foundation and The Tonic Foundation, helping the Karan and Shah’s teams take one step closer to change. Each shirt sells for $65 and is made of a bamboo, organic cotton blend. Help aid two amazing charities, support a designer on a mission and raise awareness. 

The first Fashion Indie reader to comment this post will win this exclusive Donna Karan Urban Zen Tee!

READ MORE ABOUT: Donna Karan, luella bartley, Pankaj Shah, tara subkoff, The Urban Zen Foundation, tonic

Oh, Donna. We can’t all be Olsens!

The surprisingly misguided designer showed up in this deteriorating get-up to Wednesday’s Bent On Learning Charity event at Stephen Weiss Studio in New York.

Photo from Jezebel.

READ MORE ABOUT: Celebrity, Donna Karan

We tell you all the time that music is a great source of inspiration for tons of designers everywhere. It’s only a matter of time before people started to wonder what that music was, and now you can listen to it! The website Tonic has launched a Celebrity Ipod Auction Series. Listen to all of your beloved designers’ favorite tunes. Every week a new group of signed ipods is up for auction.

 The auctions are all intended to benefit Music Rising, an organization that works to replace damaged or lost instruments in a particular hurricane affected region.  This week Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs are on the list!

READ MORE ABOUT: alice temperley, Donna Karan, ipod, Marc Jacobs, Music Ring, tonic

PETA is like that pushy bully back in middle school who told you that all the cool kids money from their mom’s purse. First it’s the purse, then it’s holiday bake sale and before you know it, you’re robbing the Bank of America down the street. Unfortunately for Tim Gunn, peer pressure got the best of him as he is now the new spokesman for decrying the use of rabbit fur in China. What happened to designers with a backbone? Come on people, if your thing is fur, then use fur! Really, I am astounded the PETA actually got to Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani, scaring them away from future fur use. I understand PETA’s plight is for the ethical treatment of animals, but their constant public torture is sacrificing the fashion industry. What fur using designers fail to understand that it is impossible for PETA to crush their market. Okay, so the vegan girl down the street might not buy your mink coat, but someone else will! Besides, she probably has more important things to buy…like buy all natural, organic brussel sprout puffs.

So designers, keep a stiff upper lip and don’t back down to the threats of PETA, completely ruining your reputation and aesthetic as a designer. Instead of running over the fox for your latest fur coat with a semi, lightly smack it over the head with a brick.

READ MORE ABOUT: Donna Karan, giorgio armani, peta, tim gunn

This amazing Italian came to when Koeun Park, former designer for the Giorgio Armani Black Collection and Donna Karan, decided he had enough with bandwagon fashion. His latest Spring 2009 collection is definitely anything but bandwagon. Choosing to go with straight up fashion pieces rather then a trend saturated collection, Park has made shown how he can mix his past work with Armani and Karan to create a wearable, desirable line.

Thanks to Selectism for the snapshots.

READ MORE ABOUT: armani, Donna Karan, Forme D'Expression, Koeun Park