“Spa Week is the calm after the Fashion Week storm,” or so we’ve been told by many of our fashion bloggers and media friends. Oh, how thrilled we are to play this role in your lives! But, we are also happy to be able deliver a dose of that zen in the midst of the NYFW circus. On Monday, Spa Week welcomed over 150 of our favorite fashion faces as we co-hosted a bumping spa and beauty respite at the FashionIndie loft. We celebrated FashionIndie’s brand new site design (congrats!), the 1st day of October SpaWeek booking, and – in general – our free will to look and feel GAWGUS.

We brought two of our favorite spas along: Spa Martier painted bona fide works of art on guests’ fingertips, dousing long-lasting gel manicures in rhinestones, crazy patterns (my Blackjack manicure – coming soon!) and even donuts. Owner Yukie Natori spends half the year teaching on the other half of the world at her Empire NY Nail School of Tokyo.

Face to Face NYC pampered guests with massages and facials, getting out the knots and making it worthwhile for show-goers to make the unprecedented decision to remove an entire face of makeup for 20 minutes. It’s a spa with sex appeal, and owner Enrique Ramirez and his talented team certainly brought it to the loft.

In between pampering and beautifying, like 5 year olds girls with a trunk of Princess dress up gear, the party was also a fun little dress up party. Guests played with Armer by Tilly and William, designed by my sister Jessica Lapidos to “turn a tank top fall, to cut the curve on your shoulder sexy, and to keep small with you when you just need sleeves.” (Modeled by FashionIndie editor in chief Samantha Lim above.) Australian milliner Philomena Kwok brought Gagalicious fun, as guests tried on her hypnotizing headwear. (Designer at left below). Camille Zarsky brought an array of exotic skin clutches (modeled by Jessica with Tilly and William armer below).

To wash down the popchips, Pretzel Crisps and other snacks, party-goers kicked back with wine by Georges DuBoeuf, Svedka vodka, Yellowtail sparkling rosé, and Rihanna’s refreshing VitaCoco. Vitacare gum freshened our breath, and Elizabeth Grant gloss lit up our lips.

Now, what’s a fashion party without a little game of “who wore it best?” Spa Week scouted out hot style by hosting the Best Dressed Blogger Competition. The stakes are high: Check out the finalists and vote on your favorite – most likes wins a $100 Spa Week gift card!

Maybe you’ve noticed… it’s been WILDLY crazy around the Spa Week headquarters lately. Or maybe we’ve been super smooth about it, and I just blew our cover. Well, with the Spa Week directory launch earlier this week, it’s now in the hands of our Social Media/Press team here to do everything humanly possible to get the #50dollartreatments word out there like there’s no tomorrow. (HEAR THAT??)

Needless to say, New York Fashion Week took a serious backseat this season. Since 2006 I’ve been a 7th row fixture at the tents, but now… the only week in my life is Spa Week. I’ve been so busy that I keep forgetting to tweet for myself, and today I didn’t eat lunch till 5 pm. In fact, I only made it to ONE of the shows I had RSVP’d to all week, and it was Tuesday on a complete whim. And then after final walk, I went for dinner, then went back to the office and worked till 3:07 AM.

The single, solitary show I made it to was Malan Breton, a impressively self-taught designer showing for his 4th season at NYFW. It kicked off with the ballerina/harpist scene you see above, a sharp, unexpected performance. I loved the brightly-hued and dapper menswear most of the whole collection. And funnily enough, I found out after the fact that the stylist for the show was actually the stylist I used to work for many moons ago – Lauren Rae Levy. Coincidence… or fate!? So I interviewed LRL about what it’s like to style a real, live fashion show at Lincoln Center. The interview:

Michelle Joni Lapidos: What’s it like styling a show at  Mercedes Benz Fashion Week?

The designer and Stylist - Malan Breton and Lauren Rae Levy

Lauren Rae Levy: Each time I arrive at Lincoln Center, it sets in that I am amongst fashion’s finest. Knowing that your work will be seen and reviewed by these very same people is surreal. When I’m backstage pre-show I’m in the zone; that being said, I’m in that zone every time I style a show. Whether it be at a petite or grande venue, all I focus on is the job I have before me. After the show, however, when the media, friends, family, and celebrities come backstage, there’s that reminder. Your work was just seen by hundreds of the most respected in the industry, and will be seen by countless more fashion enthusiasts and experts internationally in days to come. Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week is the real deal. I’m privileged to both style a show there this week, and attend shows there each year.

MJL: Describe the process (with a brief timeline) from when you were first asked to style the show, until the models hit the runway?

LRL: I was supposed to be in Istanbul, however, I had been sick and came to NY to recover. I originally wasn’t going to be in NY till a few days before Fashion Week. Malan and I had known each other socially and knew of each others’ work but hadn’t worked together, yet. We met up, Malan shared his vision with me, and I got it and felt connected to him instantly. I was honored to style this show. I think that everything happens for a reason, and maybe this was why I was back in NY. My basic role in styling was to provide Malan with his visions. I pulled accessories from Sarar, shoes from United Nude, and jewelry from Tara Pearls. I selected socks, shoes, jewelry, suspenders, bow ties, put looks together for each model, and with Malan, created the order of the show. I supervised all the dressers and more or less managed the team back stage till showtime.

MJL: What were the 5 favorite looks you styled?

LRL: (apologies for the water marks – pics haven’t been posted yet)

MJL: Least favorite look that you are upset went down the runway?

LRL:

MJL: I would have to agree with you there. What was the biggest challenge?

LRL: There were not enough steamers back stage and I would have liked to have a few more moments with the models, but they couldn’t get dressed till their look was steamed. That was my biggest challenge.

MJL: The most rewarding part?

LRL: Watching the monitor backstage which is shot from the Risers where the photographers are located. When I watch this, I remember there’s an audience out there and this isn’t just any fashion show. It’s New York Fashion Week.

MJL: A lot of designers are known for being challenging to work with. What is Malan like?

LRL: Oh, Malan is the biggest pleasure to work with, like ever. Such a class act. Treats everyone with respect and is so appreciative and gracious, it’s unreal.

MJL: How was the afterparty?

LRL: I didn’t make it to Bunker, although I heard it was a blast. I went out for a light bite and drinks with my family and friends, then went to bed.

She looks pretty good, huh? Maybe it’s because she was getting pampered at our New York Fashion Week spa party with Lookbooks.com on Valentine’s Day… or maybe it’s because girlfriend knows how to put together a freakin’ outfit.

Congratulations to Emily of lovelywanderlust.com, who was voted by readers as the #1 best dressed blogger of the party, scoring her wine from Italian Wine Masters, a pair of Manolos, and a $100 Spa Week Gift Card!  Click HERE to browse everyone who entered the competition.

Emily had my vote from the beginning with her amazing high waisted leather shorts, demure Valentine’s Day spirited blouse, and perfectly V-necked cami  peeking out, revealing just enough and not too much. She pulled it together with almost-opaque tights and black booties and a soft furry clutch for a undoubtedly seasonal ensemble.

On behalf of Spa Week Daily, I’m excited to send this Wanderlust a la mode to the spa with a Spa Week gift card—whether it’s a massage, a facial, pedicure, scrub, eyelash extensions or something else she chooses, I know she’ll make it look exceptionally good.

Click HERE for the 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Day 4 of working at Spa Week. I get an email with the subject line, “Would you want to…” from Michelle. Opening it leads to a moment of excitement and fear. “Would you like to go back stage at the Naeem Khan show at Fashion Week tonight? –Michelle” First thought, “YES!” Second thought, “Why did I have to pick my clothes in the dark this morning?”  After turning my shirt inside out and rummaging around my suitcase (purse) for some sort of jewelry—I was ready for my first Mercedes Benz Fashion Week experience.

I had two missions leaving the office Thursday night. Mission 1: Don’t get lost. Mission 2: Figure out how Spa Week and Fashion Week fit together. After frantically meandering around Lincoln Center, I finally found the press check-in. Mission 1: Completed.

As I made my way backstage, the first thing I saw when I walked in was hairstylist, Philippe Mensah giving one of the models a massage. How perfect! Models receiving complimentary treatments before they strut down the runway.  When I asked Philippe what was with the rub down, he responded in a thick French accent: “When the girls are stressed or nervous, I give massage so they can relax. Then I can do the hair.” Philippe must have known I was coming. He practically did my job for me: tying in Spa Week and Fashion Week in one perfect moment of relaxation. Mission 2: Completed.

Philippe then introduced me to lead hair stylist Laurent Philippon. Laurent explained that the low chignon hairdos he was creating were  inspired by the structure and elegance of the film Black Swan. Naeem is one smart cookie, incorporating one of this year’s blockbuster movies with his dazzling red carpet gowns. I guarantee you will see more than one of these looks on the Oscars’ red carpet. Hand-beaded bodices, open backs, plunging necklines and ostrich feathers: Hello Hollywood!

Overall, my first Fashion Week was amazing… Can’t wait to watch the Academy Awards and spot a Naeem Khan gown. The best fashion Eye Spy EVER. If you see one before I do, Tweet us @SPAWEEK

Runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Backstage at the L.A.M.B. runway show, I at first couldn’t fathom why there were six totally different makeup and hair styles happening at once. Pandemonium ensued as cameramen clamored for a moment with the famously bleach blonde celebrity designer; surely the drastically different model looks could not all be for one show! Someone in the beauty department shouted out “One minute left!” when I snapped this shot and headed out through the crowded runway to take my seat.

As the lights dimmed and the beat dropped, it became clear there were actually six shows in one. Six rocking mini collections marched down the L.A.M.B. runway—each one offering a different aesthetic and edge, each to a different beat, from the Beatles to Bowie to Bob Marley. As a whole, it painted a portrait of Gwen Stefani’s eclectic style—both fashion-wise and musically.

Gwen Stefani and model Holly Kiser, with Dashing Diva nail polish in Limo Service. Black is BACK.

But wait! I only made it backstage for a few minutes (thus my non-investigation of the different looks), but did I mention I snagged a few seconds with the beautiful Gwen? I was the last reporter she talked to before the show kicked off. If you were watching live on Ustream last night (as promised in my spattire) you already saw it.

Live-recorded quickie interview with Gwen Stefani:

Keep scrolling for the strongest looks from each mini collection. It’s something for everyone… a mish mosh of colors palettes and silhouettes… which normally do not belong together at a runway show. But since Gwen’s style portfolio is as diverse as her models’ looks, she more than got away with it—it made for a thrilling tour de fashion fantasy, no doubt. Which theme is your favorite?

Soldier girls (above)

Ragga Muffin girls

London girls

Buffalo girls

Mod girls

Glamour girls

I did livestream the entire thing, but apparently runway shows are not an iPhone’s strong suit. That, or I just have to do better than fourth row next season! Here’s the recording live from Lincoln Center.

PS… hot nail color for Fall 2011? Black. Dashing Diva did the nails for the show – check out the sultry backstage pics.

Runway photos courtesy of Style.com