STYLE360/Nili Lotan Deisgn Studio/Sylvia Heisel at Bo Concept

After three years, Stylelounge has rebranded itself as STYLE360, involved with some of the most innovative fashion shows this season. They are billed as "an alternative FashionWeek destination" but the designers are talented professinals, providing a refreshing and unique perspective on where fashion is heading, plus a change from the action at the Bryant Park Tents.

I didn't have time to attend the Nikon-hosted launch party at Henri Bendel, but I did attend the Nili Lotan runway show on Monday night at the Metropolitan Pavilion. Elle and Mercury Mariner teamed to host the Mercury Style Award, which Lotan, won. More than 54,000 Ellen Magazine readers voted by text and online to decide which designer should would win the coveted runway show, and by doing so, entered themselves in a contest to win a trip to NYC and a shopping spree at Henri Bendel (not sure who won the trip, but I'm sure she was delighted)! The competing designers were asked to create a signature piece that would exemplify the range and style of their label. Nili Lotan was victorious. The other talented finalists were Marci Zaroff and Minden Chan.

Before the actual event, guests had some time to enjoy the air conditioning (it was extremely humid outside) along with a chocolate bar and bottle of water, in a signature, brown and white-striped Henri Bendel mini shopping bag (Henri Bendel is celebrating 100 years of its signature stripe). I got to the venue early, so I had time to check out some attractive, new Mercury SUVs that can be ordered in 4or 6 horsepower, or a new hybrid model. They feature roomy interiors, keyless entry, and large, user-friendly dashboards. There were exhibits for Elle online, and Nikon cameras, plus a makeup artist on hand to touch up the humid, melting makeup on the faces of weary Fashion Week attendees such as yours truly.

The music, featuring Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, had to be the coolest of any runway this season. And, I have to admit, while many of the clothes had a hippie-ish, bohemian feel, the mixture of soft cotton voile dresses, crisp button down blouses, plus silky evening gowns, shorts and swimsuits, provided a chance for the designer to outfit a modern woman from day to evening, for every occasion. The five photos above show the range of the collection, from cute, casual, bandanna shorts with a grey hoodie, to tight, ivory ankle pants worn with a barely-there halter top, to an Oscar-worthy, sleek, silky evening gown.

Belts in contrasting colors have been seen in virtually every collection, and Nili Lotan's was no exception. But the mixture of a red belt over a pencil skirt, with a camisole layered on the outside of a cotton blouse (and worn with a red, paisley bandanna ascot in the neckline) was witty and fun. This is a look you could easily re-create right now, at home.

After the fashion show, there was a party around the corner, for designer Sylvia Heisel and Max Factor at the fashionable Bo Concept store. Bo Concept seems to be everywhere there is fashion, these days. They also designed the lounge for The Daily suite at the Bryant Park Hotel for Fashion Week. Clothes (inside), cars (by Mercury, outside), and cocktails (everwhere) were the order of the night. My aching feet urged me home before the party got started, but beautiful models in gorgeous designer duds, Elle Mag goodie bags, and fun for the fashion crowd, was evident!