The fashion industry is known for being extremely open-minded, especially when it comes to stepping out of gender norms and conventions. In the past couple years, stealing styles “from the boys” has been a major trend in women’s clothing. While women wearing men’s clothes has become fairly normal on the runway, the roles are rarely reversed. It is for this exact reason that Andrej Pejic is both so interesting and controversial. Andrej Pejic is a twenty-year old androgynous male model that has been catching the eyes of designers such as Marc Jacobs since he was first scouted at age eighteen. He ranks number 18 on the models.com Top 50 Male Models list and number 98 in FHM Magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2011.

While Andrej Pejic’s androgyny has long been a topic of conversation, his appearance at this year’s New York Fashion Week has elicited a lot of extreme opinions. Speculators are questioning whether he will model both men’s and women’s clothing, just men’s clothing, just women’s clothing or simply watch the shows. Firstly, I find it really interesting that someone could model both men’s and women’s clothing. I also think it’s really cool that the fashion industry is essentially leading the world towards breaking down gender conventions. While I can understand that this is controversial and might bother some people, I’m excited to see the results of the major changes in social norms that are occurring in the world today. In light of the overturn of Prop 8, I’m excited to say the world is moving in a more open-minded direction.

Ashley is a freshman at George Washington University and she’s majoring in Overanalyzing Situations and International Affairs. Follow her on twitter @ashleybrooks25

New York Fashion Week (and every other fashion week, for that matter) always unveils new fashion innovations. And this year is no different. As industy “pros” weigh in on what premiering styles they’re excited for, I say, “Guess what, fashion weeks? We don’t need these crazy, new high-fashion designs!” We have the old ones.

These past innovations are taken for granted now, but they still remain a college girl’s best friends. I can’t even remember how I lived before…

initiating the gallery...

Next week marks the beginning of New York Fashion Week. Tons of huge designers are going to be showing their new collections on the runway. New York Fashion Week marks when you start doubting your entire wardrobe and wondering how you can look like one of models prancing down the runway.

It takes a lot of work to look like one of those models, but it’s achievable. After reading these seven tips, your entire campus is going to wonder who that runway model is sitting behind them in English class.

initiating the gallery...

The best thing about New York City in the middle of a very cold and dreary February is, obviously, Fashion Week. And it also happens to be the best thing about being an unpaid intern. This year I got the opportunity to cover a few fashion shows and presentations for my internship — and believe me when I say I couldn’t have been more excited to take on this particular task.

There is nothing quite like NY Fashion Week — the tents are full of a mix of sleep-deprived reporters, stylish socialites, celebrities surrounded by onlookers, and cranky photographers hauling around a ton of equipment. It’s pretty much the most glamorous trainwreck you’ll ever see and little ol’ intern me couldn’t look away. That is, until the doors opened and it was time for the main event. Let me tell you, even if you’re not into fashion (which I totally am), there is nothing like the energy you feel watching a fashion show, from the beginning when you’re waiting around for it start (always expect them to be at LEAST a half-hour late), until the end when you’re giving a standing ovation to a truly beautiful collection. Just knowing I was witnessing something so incredible, something that many people never have the opportunity to see up close, sent chills down my achy-from-walking-in-my-too-high-heels spine.

My favorite collection this year by far was alice + olivia, presented at the super-chic Plaza Hotel on Valentine’s Day. The presentation took up four rooms for beautifully clothed models, a full bar and a red carpet. Waiters walked around offering trays of mini cupcakes, flutes of champagne, and heart-shaped chocolate lollipops. And as much as I indulged on all of the above (hello, FREE FOOD!), that still wasn’t the highlight of the evening.  The clothes were, and I’m not exaggerating, AMAZING. Inspired by flappers, they had loads of girly details like lace and feathers, including sky-high, glittery platform heels and sequined pants. From my first cupcake to the end of the show, I literally did not stop drooling.

Before I could enjoy the party, though, I had to interview celebrities such as Kelly Rutherford, Gabe Saporta, and Brittany Snow. One of my style icons, Vanessa Hudgens, also attended, and I obviously stalked her for a little bit. She hung out with Brittany Snow the whole time, and they posed for pictures together, which me and my best friend desperately tried to photo-bomb.

Another amazing presentation that I went to was for Wildfox. Presentations are like parties that are full of New York’s fashion elite, usually a mix of celebs, and free drinks, so, really, how can you go wrong? Wildfox was held in a dark and smokey room, where everyone danced on couches as the DJs, The Misfits, did their thing. When the models came out to show off the clothes, huge balloons fell from the ceiling, immediately prompting everyone to throw them and pop them in a fit of excitement. The clothes were reminiscent of the seventies; bohemian, hippie-chic, and very drool-worthy. The best part of the night? Obviously the amazing gift bag — free Urban Decay makeup and a Wildfox t-shirt. Hollerrrr.

The most celeb-packed show I went to was The Heart Truth Red Dress Show. This show, featuring a group of female celebs rocking their best red dresses, is more about the cause it raises awareness for (heart disease in women) than showing off a collection. But really, when it comes to Fashion Week, it’s all about the clothes, so in that department this was a little bit of a disappointment.  That being said, the show was full of energy with the stars such as Audrina Patridge, Dita Von Teese and Natasha Bedingfield, among others, dancing their way down the runway to cheers and applause. Spotted in the front row: Matthew McConaughey supporting his wifey, Camila Alves, all three judges from America’s Next Top Model, and Susan Sarandon looking more than a little disheveled. I was star struck…sorta.

Thanks to my fashion editor, I had amazing seats to both Elie Tahari and Naeem Khan. Tahari showed off a collection in shades of black, white, nude, brown and red. The runway was full of sheer clothing and tons of lace and fur. Spotted in the front row was Joan Rivers, who was surprisingly very nice and gracious. The Naeem Khan collection showed off a variety of breathtaking dresses, from long and flowy floor-sweeping gowns to sparkly minis. They featured lots of sparkle and shimmer, with sequins, flower prints, feathers and a ton of gold and silver. The gowns were super glamorous, and I could easily see any one of them on the red carpet.

Unfortunately for my unpaid self, I don’t expect to see any of those frocks on me anytime soon. Sad. But, that’s OK; despite the long hours, the intense pain in my feet from wearing heels all week, and all that waiting around for speedy, 15-minute shows, the entire Fashion Week experience was absolutely incredible. There really isn’t anything like being there with all the energy, excitement and amazing craftsmanship by the world’s best designers. Oh, and rubbing elbows with major celebs doesn’t hurt either.

I can’t wait for the next one!

Fashion Week.  A place for designer’s ambitions, dreams and hard work to spill out onto a runway in front of an intense, anticipating public eye.  In front of other sweaty-palmed designers.  In front of Anna Wintour and Blake Lively’s mane.

Excuse me for sounding dramatic, but isn’t that what Fashion Week is all about?  Being dramatic? Based on my nightly routine of viewing pages and pages full of lustful fashion lines this week, that seems to be the case. In fact, it seems that Fashion Week exploded this season.  It exploded right on my face.  And now I’m left blinking at a screen full of lace, sheer fabrics, bold colors, drapery, fur and tribal makeup.

At first, I couldn’t decide if I was liking anything that was popping out from behind the curtain. It looked like MC Hammer and Lucille Ball barfed onto some fabric, smeared the regurgitated styles all over models with paint on their faces and let it go on a long strip of runway.  The chic, bold colors and ’40s-inspired ideas came together awkwardly and I was pursing my lips like Ms. Wintour.

But after taking a moment to sit back and appreciate the artwork, craftsmanship and deeply thought out designs and styles, I started to find some beautiful pieces.  And I. mean. beautiful. Then I started drooling. Then I started Googling ways to make a couple thousand dollars fast so I could get my hands on some of these things. Then I got scared about selling my eggs/body. Then I gave up and just got excited for these thoroughly anticipated clothes to hit the racks so I can window shop with that glazed over look in my eyes before I pop into Forever 21 for the knock-offs.

Ready for some Fashion Week porn? Here are a few of my favorite things that came down the runway this week:

Another New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and if it weren’t for the fact that London starts up just as it ends, I’d be spiraling into a deep pit of fashion depression, downing Chunky Monkey as I flipped through pictures of my favorite collections for the 47th time. I’m not crazy, I just feel like this year NYFW and I took our relationship to the next level. Though we’ve been doing long distance forever, the live-streaming of my favorite shows has been making it easier to cope. We even spent Valentine’s day together this year, with our dear friends, Betsey and Marc.

Yeah, it’s kinda serious.

While shopping for Fall clothes is still many months away, there is lots to look forward to once you hit the mall come August (despite what we originally expected/feared). Next fall will be far from drab, with lots of bright and neon colors. And the little red dress you rocked on Valentine’s Day appears to have some staying power, so hang onto it! Oh and if you’re sick of the horizontal stripe, have no fear; Marc Jacobs was all about the polka dots, so you may have a new simple pattern to hate next year.

With some designers looking to the post-war 1940s for inspiration and others drawing from the grunge era of the ’90s, fall fashion is going to be varied, fun and exciting. And I can’t wait! Wonder what you’ll be wearing on the first day of classes? Here’s a look at the biggest trends from Fall 2011 NYFW:

[While most of us are relying on photos and livestreams to get a glimpse of New York Fashion Week, some very lucky CollegeCandy writers were blessed with the opportunity to attend some of the biggest shows at Lincoln Center. Of course, they promised they'd share their experiences with everyone, so here is Melanie's first-hand account of one of the most anticipated shows of the week.]

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than at New York Fashion Week? When boys fail, fashion rules. In the famous Lincoln Center Theater on February 14th, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week showcased the fashion show of the season from the iconic Betsey Johnson. Our friends at Rowenta treated us to an extra-special night of floral prints, celebrities galore, crazy kooky hair and catwalk cartwheels.

The show opened with dark eyed, gaunt models strutting their stuff in the “He Loves You Not” portion of the show. The hair was sleek and airbrushed with black lace patterns, and the clothes were deliciously pressed and witchy (thank god for the Rowenta steamers and irons backstage). The music blared, Jill Zarin texted on her Blackberry and Miss Jay silently nodded his approval as the gothic looks stormed down the runway. It was incredibly chic, sleek and dark. My MVPs? A long fur coat and a lace up dress.

It took all my power (and fear of the many security guards standing by) to keep me from jumping on the runway and tearing them off the models.

Then, just when I thought I couldn’t handle any more doom and gloom, the mood shifted, the music picked up and the screen turned bright green and pronounced, “He Loves You.” Blonde women danced down the runway, and I mean women. There were no models in this portion of the show! Bedecked in neons, florals and all things teal and Betsey-licious, we were treated from the starved models we’re so used to during Fashion Week and saw REAL women march down the runway in bright blonde wigs that looked just like Betsey’s hair. We saw a pregnant woman, chubby women, skinny women, Asian women, black women, Hispanic women, men dressed as women and everything up, down and in between all bedecked in blonde wigs.

It was a welcome change from the heroin-chic we’re used to.

The show was destined to be by far one of the most-talked-about of the season and closed out with Betsey herself doing her infamous cartwheels down the catwalk. Some balked at the plus sized women walking down the runway but I couldn’t help but feel inspired. After all, isn’t that what fashion is all about? It’s about the clothes and the real women who wear them, not humans who resemble hangers. Snaps to Betsey for embracing all shapes and sizes!

I feel so lucky to have seen it all first hand, but for those of you who didn’t, check out the crazy chic looks below. And for a chance to win a Rowenta (the official Mercedes Benz Fashion Week garment care sponsor) iron, enter their contest on their Facebook and Twitter!

For a chance to win a Rowenta (the official Mercedes Benz Fashion Week garment care Sponsor) iron: enter their contest on their Facebook and Twitter! For more Betsey, check out her site.

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New York Fashion Week is the most unproductive 7 days of my year. Which is really saying something since I usually spend around 75 days a year in the fetal position willing away a massive hangover. Instead of doing the mountains of work that give me the stink-eye the moment I sit down at my desk every morning, I spend this most glamorous week poring over pictures of clothing from the best designers in the world. For hours. Every day.

I love seeing what new and innovative things they come up with, what new trends they’ve incorporated into their new lines, and what I’ll be wearing come Fall 2011….when Target/H&M/Kohl’s take their ideas and brings ‘em down to my broke-ass level.

And according to today’s “research,” it’s gonna be a frumpy fall. Like, hide yo wife and hide yo curves, frumpy. Gone are mini-skirts, cinched waists and bandage dresses. In their place? Shapeless frocks in patterns that look eerily similar to the drapes your grandma has hanging in her sitting room.

Part of me is jumping for joy at the prospect of hiding my “can’t stop eating M&Ms” weight under all that fabric, but the other part of me is just…..scared. Like, this is ‘fashion’?

[Click on any image to start the frump-fest.]

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