Cheryl Shops

Where & When: Friday, September 11th at 3 p.m., the Tent, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: With the runway dressed like a cobblestone street and a backdrop that evoked the Old Town of a Mediterranean city, I was expecting a hokey French influence. Instead, Monarchy Collection showed a rather sophisticated lineup of party dresses for women and sharply tailored suits for men, segueing into what this L.A.-based contemporary label does best: casual sportswear with that air of West Coast ease. The very on-trend collection featured well-cut paperbag-waist shorts, cropped tops, and boyfriend shirts, vests, jeans, and jackets; there were also buttery-looking leather jackets for both men and women. I have no idea what the backdrop was all about, or how it was supposed to relate to the show, but with clothes this great, who cares?
Standout Look: Monarchy showed a fresh way to wear the old-standby party-top-and-jeans outfit: A loose metallic cropped top layered under a cropped, tailored jacket and paired with high-waisted jeans. It's a new proportion, but one that works.
Bonus Points: The front row was packed with reality TV stars: Reverend Run's daughters Angela and Vanessa Simmons, Janice Dickinson (who was, inexplicably, with Lizzie Grubman), Miss J. Alexander, and Phillip Bloch. The photographers were having a field day, but they went totally bananas when AnnaLyne McCord (Naomi from 90210) came from backstage.
Where to Buy: Click here for retail locations.