Color palette: Red, white and blue
Mood: Magical, nostalgic, enlivening
Statement Pieces: The whole damn show was a statement
Front Row Name Drops: Phillip Bloch, Garance Dore, Elizabeth Hurley, Margherita Missoni, Amy Sacco, Alek Wek, Scott Schuman and Waris Ahluwalia were all in the house
Gossip: “Oh my god this is amazing. I’m going to cry.”
Runway Music: The Harlem Boys Choir, M.I.A.

Photographed by Raymond Meier for

This granite shaded snowboard boot lacing system called the Sweet Spot Speed Zone that provides cool comfort control and heel hold. The outer sole is super light to leave you soaring.

Serious about skiing? Get a custom fit with special ski orthotics made by experts here in NYC by

Blaze as bright as the snow you ski upon with color blocked snow pants. Its Triple Trail three-layer construction wicks your sweat away and keeps the snow at bay. With stretch at the knee, you can hit those jumps comfortably.

Made with snowboarders in mind, there's shin cushioning and seamless toes to comfort the points that ail the common boarder.

The North got a Face lift. With a new design team, Heatseeker Eco insulation, HyVent waterproof breathability, and concealed pockets, this jacket is fully functional and sleek.

A smaller fit than most, these bright sun blockers are fog, shatter and scratch resistant. They also are optimized for cloudy day vision.

You want your friends to spot you easily as you fly past them on the more advanced runs. Not because you're so much better than them, but you never learned to slalom. Wear a neon helmet to protect your precious head, and help will find you immediately should you need it.

Quilted and watercolored, this glove not only has two stretchy layers and pizzazz, but also a hidden stash zip pocket and a built-in goggle squeegee.

Your brightest cashmere scarf is coming with you on the slopes, but truth be told, you could use a little more warmth. Hand and feet warmers are a no-brainer, but now you can use this face-warming mask underneath your scarf for a hot boost.

For the splurge, get your under layer just right. This snow jumpsuit with stirrups will stir up your layering in a very positive way.

This wine-colored denim actually sends chills down our spines. Betcha she doesn't own pants with authentic python patches at the knee.

This piece of jewelry transforms before your eyes - the heart-shaped charm opens to reveal long silvery strands. It's perfect for the day-to-night outfit aficionado.

Stamped with "FEED 1000" across the back, this beaded evening clutch is unlike any other. For each bag purchased, FEED Projects will provide 1000 meals for children worldwide.

Dress her feet in a pair no one else owns. Constructed from leather and vintage kilim rugs, each pair of Kiboots is one of a kind.

With an array of metallic, bright and dark smokey hues, she'll never tire of creating over-the-top looks with this vibrant palette.

This obscure set of ear candy boasts the coolest combination of colors we've seen. Bold enough for both short and long hair.

We want candy colored fur, and so does your over-the-top accessories loving friend. Give her the gift of sugar pink head warmth.

The perfect gift for the hostess who has it all, these adorable little sugar buttons will make her day a bit sweeter.

For the tough bitch who loves a stiff coffee, no one in her office will attempt to steal this mug.

This thick flannel is 100% virgin wool which makes it the perfect transitional item. The printm akes it super versatile so you can mix it under a puffer vest or on top of a hoodie.

While the other guys are in their black or gray peacoats make a statement that transcends seasons.

This super sleek & trim jacket contains a concealed channel-stitched zip-out front-zip placket with a ribbed-knit stand collar for when the temperature drops.

If you know anything about mens trends then you know both camel and toggle coats were seen on an insurmountable number of runways. Mix the two in this great waist length coat.

Stand out in this stunning green jacket with both faux and real fur.

This jacket has a classic silhouette and will never fail any season. The pops of flannel in the hood and brass hardware bring the coat to a modern level.

Besides the super cool latches, this coat offers a big collar that stands up against chilly breezes. Enough said.

This jacket has the look of a tailored blazers but feels like down filled coat.

This jacket is both sporty and on trend.

This jacket plays both the role of a quilted jacked and unconventional blazer.

From this collection you can tell that Thom abhors two things for Spring 2012: pants & sleeves.

I say this because it seems as if this collection is void of the two. He deconstructs the traditional suit jacket be removing the sleeves or not adding places for them in the first place. He also plays with suiting by chaining up proportions, lapels, and hem finishing.

A trend that seems to e emerging is skirts on men. Some designers such as Rick Owens have kept them a staple but it seems more mainstream designers are picking up on this pantless kick.

My favorite part of this show had to be the fringe. I don’t know who decided it was time for the flapper to return but it really works great and adds a flair that is seen in more womenswear that even menswear.

This collection does offer a slight variety of styles. There are a few options for the “average” man but mainly this collection is for someone who wants to be seen on the cutting edge of mens fashion.

Follow me on Twitter & visit my personal menswear blog for more pictures & Mens Fashion Week coverage: dailyMISTER.com

1. Christopher Raeburn: Made from recycled military parachute nylon, this parka (which also allows for a warm winter insert) will protect from the elements.

2. Emma Cook: Not your typical poncho, this one has the capacity to enhance your outfit, rather than covering it horrifically, as so many ponchos do. And it will be good to you during a potentially rainy festival season.

3. Peacocks: A cheapie mac from across the pond, where it rains, all the time. Printed leopard. Rawr.

4. Ann Demeulemeester: Drawstrung up in silver, the lapel alone is worth the wear.

5. Jil Sander: As gray as the day is long, yet as olive as my filthy martini, this coat can make a splash.

6. Topshop: Brings me back to a skirt I had during my middle school Spice Girls days – deep blue and plastic. But what I really really really want is zigazig ahh.

7. ModCloth: Red and rubber with an inner whale.

8. American Apparel: Down with a cinch, up with a hood.

9. Moncler: The dolman cuts it short for warmer weather drizzle.

10. Burberry: Cropped and caped, shrug it dry.

As umbrellas are quite the temporary fixture – lost or broken almost immediately – pick up a cute printed guy at H&M for cheap.

And I continue to stand by a solid flatform in the rain.  Because weather is no excuse for shlump.  In fact, there is no excuse. Stay classy. Stay dry.

Miuccia Prada and chief executive officer Patrizio Bertelli own a 95% majority stake in the company and will sell about 15% of that, while Banca IMI-Intesa Sanpaolo Group is expected to sell its 5.1% share, thus meeting Prada’s goal of a 20% public listing.

Whereas Prada’s decision to go public in Hong Kong is an attempt to capitalize on China’s rapidly growing luxury sector, fellow Italians Ferragamo and Moncler, who are also going public, will list on the Italian Stock Exchange.

Despite its record year of profits, Prada still had a debt of $575 million at the end of the fiscal year in January, leading to speculation that going public was a means to get their affairs all squared up. [WWD]

Through cracks in the spaces between heads in front of me, I glimpsed the Moncler-clad ski ready people appear from nowhere to line up within the crowd. I held up my Blackberry to give us a view.

A bit miffed, my mind wandered to the common folk on the first level, who apparently had the true front row seats. What the eff? Desperate for a better view, I sprinted downstairs, down to the main level of slowly segregating models and humans.

When I reached the floor, I could here the grumblings of the underbelly of Grand Central Station. A gray bearded giant green t-shirted crazy walked plumb through the line of models shouting, “THEY CAN’T DO THIS! Just walk around! This isn’t real!” He tried to incite a riot, a Monclerebellion if you will, but not one person followed suit. Regular passersby in North Faces and Uggs were whipping out camera phones with dazed looks, mouths agape at the oddity of witnessing such a thing. Then BAM! Flash mob.

Barbara Streisand.

Mind. BLOWN. Marvelous. And, did I mention, Barbara Streisand? Not just the Duck Sauce WOOOOOO version, but also the glorious sound of Babs herself. Perplexed, I watched as Moncler proved its flexibility and active ready comfort through mass synchronized dance. Though I certainly was getting an excellent view of the models close up – I could see diamond quilted nylon side zip up sweaters and the minute details on the impossibly expensive puffy belted skiwear with perfect clarity, my thoughts began to wander back to the upper level, where the panoramic view of such a thing would be most vivid from a height. So I gathered myself, darted past security, through the aisle from where more Monclerians were about to shimmy in, sprinted back up to the balcony and slipped into tier two VIP and marveled at the rest.

I found this video – an uninterrupted version from someone who obviously didn’t have quite as erratic adventure as I did. Enjoy.

Untitled from Racked on Vimeo.

Photos and Videos (except that last one) by Jessica Lapidos

Thom Brown has quickly become the fashion world’s sweetheart, a recognizable face within the industry so saturated with men’s suits. Apparently, investors just realized that his suits can cost about $5,000 each and they’re not holding their own on the rack. Which means canceled orders for Spring and Fall from small boutiques and larger department stores and the possibility of bankruptcy.

Much to everyone’s surprise since he has a multi-million dollar partnerships with Harry Winston, Moncler and Brooks Brothers.

LINKAGE: Fashionista