Cheryl Shops

When & where: Monday, February 13 at 11 a.m., the Stage, Lincoln Center
Runway recap: Some designers make me question whether they really like women or not; these are designers that tend to make backless dresses (can't wear a bra underneath), super-skintight anything (can't wear anything underneath), sheer tops (what do you wear underneath?), and so on. Carlos Miele is not one of those designers. His clothes are always sexy but never vulgar; they celebrate a woman's body–a woman with hips and breasts. (How novel!) So it was fitting that his fall collection was inspired by gauchas, which are older, country-dwelling Brazilian women. This translated into some fabulous ponchos (one made of fur) and traditional geometric motifs on a literal level, and rich gold tones and organic prints on a more figurative one. The result was one fabulous dress after another, some with flattering draping that hugged the hips, others with wide sash belts that emphasized the waist, and still more with a drape of fringe that cascaded from the shoulders downward. We have so many choices in fashion; why not choose one who celebrates women so beautifully?
Bonus points: Fashion Week hair and makeup can sometimes be a bit much, especially with designers who want to make a Statement, but Miele's models had perfectly bouncy blowouts and sun-kissed makeup. Granted, I'm a simple girl, but it was the best beauty I've seen so far this week (kudos to Rodney Cutler for Ulta and Gato for Maybelline).  
Where to buy: Carlos Miele, 408 W. 14th Street (9th Ave. & Washington St.), Meatpacking District.