A senior reviews her last New York Fashion Week

As I arrived at the famous Bryant Park tents for what was to be the beginning of my last Fashion Week ever, or at least the last that I would be covering for the Indiana Daily Student, I took a deep breath and reminded myself of everything I came to do. I hadn't been to a Fashion Week in New York since September 2004, and I had forgotten how exciting it was. I wanted to go to every show, interview all of the designers, attend all of the after-parties and mingle with the prestigious fashion elite, with whom I hope to someday work.\nEntering the tents, the thrill came back to me. It always gives me a natural high, being between celebrities prancing around with their champagne and the photographers snapping away at otherwise ordinary onlookers like myself. I realized that this was it! This was the place to see and to be seen. Business cards and portfolios were being passed back and forth while the world's fashionistas waited impatiently for the next show to open up. I did my best to network through the Bryant Park bubble this year, taking a deep breath each time I looked around, and again, just taking it all in. \nThe first show I attended was Max Azria, formerly known as BCBG. The show was packed and once the music started, I had a feeling that I was going to be shocked. To my surprise, the preferred colors were grays and blacks, much different from the colorful patterns prevalent in previous seasons. What stood out as the most alluring aspect of the line were the beautiful knits used. Sweaters and jackets were bulky and unique. The only colors that came into play were brown and tan earth tones which made the collection very warm.\nAfter the Max Azria show, I headed over to see Zang Toi. The music for this show provided the perfect sensation for Toi's collection. The opening music was from the movie "Vanity Fair," then transitioned into opera music and closed with models walking to the music from "Sleeping Beauty" in evening gowns with beautiful crystals. \nToi also leaned toward dark grays and used a generous amount of wool for his designs. He detailed his clothing with glamorous, colored fur trim on plaids which livened up the collection. His use of embroidery on suede also stood out as a trademark.\n"I was inspired by my new apartment on the Upper East Side. It is done in 18th-century French decor, but in more modern ways," Toi said of his Fall '06 collection. "I used blacks and grays with a touch of fire for romance."\nBill Blass, an Indiana native, created the next collection worthy of an honorable mention. Michael Vollbracht, the designer for Blass, succeeded in making a collection that captured everyone's attention and glued their eyes to the runway.\n"I wanted to keep Bill's style, but was also told to put a touch of my own personality into it," Vollbracht said.\nThe collection radiated sexy class for the independent woman. The colors were rich as were the fabrics. Red, brown and purple gave a warm feeling and the patterns were sensational. Many of the outfits had a high-waist and balloon-type skirts, which were popular in other collections but not as exaggerated as in previous years. His short fur coats and use of fur trim were some of the best I have seen this season. The models walked the runway to the song "Diamonds are Forever," in my opinion, a perfect choice for the designs and the mood of the show.\n"Michael Vollbracht just got it," Cynthia Nixon, actress from "Sex and the City," said after viewing the collection\nAll in all, everyone in New York seemed to be glowing about something -- whether it was because they were raving about the last runway show or excited about attending the next party. I will miss those flashing lights, annoying photographers and swarms of people trying to get a peek inside the tents. There's nothing that can compare to New York Fashion Week. I love it all. It's a scene that's simply unimaginable.