On September 15, I attended the Nanette Lepore Spring Summer 2011 runway show at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Lepore's inspiration was her mother, which I thought was really sweet, and her connection to her mother must be a strong one because the clothes were beautiful, feminine and chic. There were swimsuits, dresses and skirts rendered in bright resort-inspired colors like tangerine, coral and plum. Jackets, shorts and shirts in white, cafe and sand kept things looking light, fresh and crisp yet totally effortless at the same time. That feeling of being carefree yet utterly stylish was also expressed with live music written especially for the show and performed by John Forte, whose sultry, sexy voice created the perfect backdrop. I think Lepore always puts the perfect feminine finishing touches on her clothing, whether it's artistic beading or shimmering sequins on a slouchy cardigan. Hers was a timeless modern collection that had me yearning for spring.

Celebrities seated front row included Kristin Chenoweth, Aida Turturro and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. See if you can spot them in my photos after the jump!