Fall '07 New York Fashion Week Day 5: Chaiken Goes Clean, Crisp and Colorful

12:00 PM The Salon: CHAIKEN

Chaiken's creative director Jeff Mahshie has been busy lately designing costumes for the plays "The Scene" and "The Little Dog Laughed", but it hasn't affected his day job. This season he added an extra dose of chic to the brand's collection. Mahshie has a knack for crystalizing the season's trends, and grown-up tailoring fits right in with Chaiken's usual stock-in-trade, so he added extra details like a sexy row of buttons down the back of a pencil skirt. Handknit trenches and and oversized chalet cashmeres benefited from a streamlining touch, and an fluffy fur vest was a luxurious alternative to nylon and down. For evening, there were inventive takes on the tuxedo with touches of sari silks for extra richness. In case you thought this would be another collection of black and neutrals, the show ended with a quintet of jewel-toned cashmere gowns with full, tiered skirts with laid-back sex appeal, an appealing alternative to an elaborate ball dress. Once again, Chaiken girls will have an abundance of sophisticated sportswear to choose from next fall.
Music: More rock mixes from Michel Gaubert and Steven Brinke
Celebrities: Cynthia Nixon, Julianna Margulies and Mary Louise Parker