THE END OF FASHION ON BROADWAY

L’WREN SCOTT ON THE RUNWAY IN NYC

Béatrice de Géa for The New York Times

The gig is up - Fashion Week just ended and the Bryant Park tents on 40th Street and 6th Avenue (originally called 7th on Sixth) are down for good.

For the past 17 years the white tents housed sinful fashion and the greatest people watching show on earth (if you like odd balls and glamour). There were 31 seasons, 2,500 fashion shows and a lot of pushing and shoving to get a good seat (but it was worth it).

For those lucky enough to have had the privilege of being squashed into a seat with deafening music, it is a sad story. The fashion shows in NYC were an energetic alert for fashionistas from around the globe.

There were high society ladies hunkering down for swift glamorous shows by Oscar de la Renta and spiked heeled fashion editors who came equipped with a pedigreed look of discernment and irreverence (they get younger every year).

A few years’ back (in 1999) Bill Blass said Goodbye to his namesake during Hurricane Floyd (I was there). Not many people showed up, but it was a glam day of rain and runway brilliance.

But that is fashion history. The New York Runway Shows will no longer be at arms length from the Broadway showrooms, but will be held at the cultural icon, Lincoln Center.

The latest runway shows in NYC did bring some exciting new fashion trends. Ralph Lauren used menswear caps as his head muse (they looked very cool). He also showed floral prints, leg-of-mutton sleeves; velvets and gentlemanly trousers (think Hepburn).

Isaac Mizrahi showed luxe parkas, silver-sequins and a black leather jumper with pleated tulle. Other designers brought out rounded shoulders, rubberized fabrics, high laced duck boots, oversize checks and paper-bagged trousers.

There were diamond brooches on shoulders and beaded skirts and tops. These bling additives are perfect for headwear - and with designers showing more caps and hats - it just might be a great year for everyone.