Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week resonates across the coast

Lights! Camera! Fashion! The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicked off in New York, N.Y. at 9 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and anyone who is someone was there.

Celebrities and socialites filled the seats to watch their favorite designers showcase their spring 2014 lines.

After starting on a bit of a boring note with designs by Nicholas K, whose "new" line looks almost identical to his spring 2010 line, the show went on to the man of the hour.

Tadashi Shoji, known as the designer that caters to women of all shapes and sizes, wowed his celebrity-filled audience with his beautiful gowns that displayed such attention to detail.

Ranging from playful pastel pinks to beautifully bold black dresses, Shoji had something for everyone. Many described his collection as a gauzy, ethereal creation, said Dana Oliver of the Huffington Post.

Supima, the promotional organization of the American Pima cotton growers, had a contest in which eight fashion students who were chosen from top fashion schools showcased their designs made entirely out of Supima cotton in the raw form. This means that the students had to dye, sew, texture cut and embellish everything themselves.

Fashion student Morgan Selin won the competition, earning the $10,000 prize. She wowed the judges with her beautifully done gowns which included a textured pastel blue gown, which was a judge favorite.

Project Runway also made an appearance for their season 12 finale. Starting their show ontime and running over an hour long, the show did not disappoint. Bringing the drama and the fashion is what the show is known for. Eight competitors showed a 10-look collection to a very excited audience that consisted of glamorous gothic, sequin dresses and tailored separates.

Alexander Wang, Monique Lhuillier, and Altuzarra all made their shows at Fashion Week unforgettable. However, Venexiana, known as the go-to fashion house for rock 'n' roll haute couture, outdid herself from last year and showcased beautiful gowns.

Venexiana opened with a gorgeous pink silk gown and also had a burnt orange dress that you can definitely expect to see on the red carpet soon. The show for Herve Leger by Max Azria, a celebrity favorite, was so full it looked like many people were standing just to get a glimpse.

Filled with celebrities, it is no wonder he is a favorite among the most elite. Going with his usual body-hugging design, there was everything from snakeskin, embellishments, leather corsets and a hint of some southern flair.

Bright colors, black-and-white mixes, floral prints, embellishments and sequins have all been a trend so far this week.

As Fashion Week continued into its second half, it was obvious that next spring is going to be anything but dull. With beautiful color schemes and fun fabrics, the shows have been an exciting scene.

"This Fashion Week has been so interesting to see," said SMC student Angelica Saldina. "I love the colors that the designers are using, and the floral prints on some of the pieces are just lovely. I love fashion; it makes me really excited when designers showcase their new lines."

Starting off with a conga drum band, Tracy Reese's show was anything but ordinary. Reese had Tropical Patterns and very bright colored patterns and fabrics. Best known for her figure-flattering silhouettes and complex pattern, her show was reminiscent of a crazy party but on a runway setting.

Zac Posen, another celebrity favorite, has been worn by Rihanna and many
other celebrities wowed the crowd with his beautifully crafted dresses. From flowy to form fitting, the dresses looked red carpet ready.

One of the dresses that really made an impression was a Flamenco-style gown with a silver flowery print that was absolutely jaw dropping.

Calling the collection X-Ray, Custo Barcelona did not disappoint. There were many colors, textures, fabrics and prints that had an interesting yet fun design.

With sheer material for both men and women, the X-Ray line had a very beach-going feel, including everything from pants to bathing suits. This line was perfect for a fashion forward woman who isn't afraid to wear a little color.

Naeem Khan had characteristically unique beading, detailed embellishments and beautiful embroidery on his gowns. Reminiscent of the dresses worn by Frida, a famous Mexican painter, this line made the favorites list.

The beading on some of the dresses were complex, and the patterns were subtle, but made a huge statement.

One of the last looks was an alluring short-sleeved white wedding dress. Khan also included his Kaftans, which he is known for.

Not everyone can attend Fashion Week, so Mercedes streams the show live for fashionistas all over the world at mbfashionweek.com.

Fashion Week came to a close on Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.