Fashion Week Day 1: Quirky Hemlines and Earth Tones Everywhere

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Our two sister sites, Racked NY and Racked National, are in the midst of New York Fashion Week on that other coast that's covered in snow. Day 1 is over, and although the day started with some tragic news and one canceled presentation, the other shows must go on.

· BCBG kicked it all off with wearable looks with lots of flowing knits and asymmetrical hems. Also: sequins! Entire garments covered in sequins!

· Duckie Brown explored cropped pants, tartan plaid, tweeds, shoulder-crushing piles of knit scarves and colorful wools. If you turn up your computer speakers loud enough, you can almost hear the hunting horns.

· Vena Cava's show at Milk featured a live band (the Like) playing as the models showcased layers designed for women "to wear in her cabin upstate." There were high-waisted formal shorts over fishnet leggings, black hats, neon-streaked ponytails and fur. The huge shawls looked comfy, although the battle-armor-esque gold necklace looked heavy.

· Offsite, Daniel Vosovic presented an "earthy, edgy vibe" in a collection he named "Chiseled." (If you don't know who Daniel Vosovic is—shame on you!—he's from Project Runway.) The collection embraces neutral colors and patterns like whoa, with rounded-edge blazers and handkerchief-hemmed dresses. Also, strong-shoulder silhouettes peppered the presentation.

· Ports 1961 saw some serious MTV faux-lebrity drama before the show started, but once the seats were filled and the lights dimmed, the 47-look collection predominantly consisted of earthy beiges, tans, and off-whites (we know, all these earth tones in fall shows, it's just CRAZY) with unique metallic copper cocktail dresses, spangled cigarette pants, "rubberized tech fabrics," capes, and jewelry fashioned from wood and metal.

· All of Gwen Stefani's time spent listening to Lionel Richie for inspiration resulted in leopard-print coats, corsets, thigh- and knee-high stockings worn with shorts and skirts and even L.A.M.B.-branded dog tags. Is this trying to tell us something?

· The Bess collection took goth rocker to the next level by offering complimentary absinthe to showgoers, then parading giant furry/feathery coats down the runway. Some of the menswear even featured lace. Also: sexy leather pieces for men and women.

· The 2010 Red Dress Collection featured celebs like Felicity Huffman, Heidi Klum, Jordin Sparks, Kristin Chenoweth, Kimora Lee, Valerie Harper, Regina King, Raven-Symone, Mamie Gummer, Kim Kardashian and a vampire-like Joan Collins rocking red dresses by Oscar de la Renta, John Galliano, Rachel Roy, Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tadashi Shoji, Rebecca Taylor, Pamella Roland, and J. Crew. Wait, where's the Campbell's Soup logos?

· All Fashion Week Fall 2010 coverage [Racked]