On September 12, I attended the Rebecca Minkoff Spring Summer 2011 Presentation at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where famed fashion blogger Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast was modeling. Truth be told, I didn't recognize Rumi even though I was looking for her specifically, knowing full well she'd be in attendance. You'd think after all these years of seeing her face on her blog I would have recognized her instantaneously but no, walked right past her, multiple times. It wasn't until my friend Nitrolicious told me to check Luckmag's twitpic of Rumi that I realized my absentmindedness.

Nonetheless I can say with certainty Rumi looked beautiful—so model-esque she blended right in! You can pre-order her dress, The Rumi dress ($325), and the same style bag she was carrying, The Quilted Affair Bag in black ($325), from rebeccaminkoff.com today.

Shown above: Fashion blogger Rumi Neely from Fashion Toast (right) models at the Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2011 presentation.

Photo credit: Dianna Baros, thebudgetbabe.com

Backstage at New York Fashion Week, I had the opportunity to speak with Avon Global Stylist Tippi Shorter about creating the Cynthia Steffe Spring 2011 hair looks. Listen in as this fashion week veteran and celebrity hair stylist reveals the inspiration for the hairstyles, key products used and the process involved. Huge thanks to Tippi for sharing her time and expertise, and thanks to Avon for inviting us backstage.

Click through for step-by-step instructions on how to get the look.

On September 11, I attended the Lacoste Spring Summer 2011 runway show at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. For this, his final show for Lacoste, Creative Director Christophe Lemaire looked to express the essence of the brand. "Sporty and chic. Easy and playful. Clean and clear," he said. "In short, modern minimal classics." With nary a crocodile in sight, models showcased athletic yet artsy Mondrian-esque looks for both men and women. Lacoste is also launching jewelry for SS2011, guests of the show each received a graphic resin cuff neatly packaged in a pouch made from the same white 'petit pique' jersey as the brand's iconic L. 12. 12 polo. I loved the all-white looks and envied the models in their comfy flats.

More photos and show notes after the jump.

On September 11, I attended the Binetti Spring Summer 2011 presentation at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. For the Spring/Summer 2011 season, designer Diego Binetti drew his inspiration from Mother Earth. But this was no '60s hippie deity; rather, Binetti explored what you might call Empress Earth, a goddess, confident, elegant and passionate, dressed in a dazzling array of beaded, sequinned and embroidered gowns and dresses, brocade harem pants, lace, silk, chiffon and jewel-encrusted heels, draped in fine German silver jewelry and gemstones, ruling over her vast dominion with diva-like grace. Utilizing earthy color tones like beige, yellows, blues and greens, Diego managed to keep the collection from veering into OTT territory and instead presented a beautifully intriguing if at times unusual fashion fantasy.

See the complete collection after the jump.

On September 10, I attended the Nautica Spring 2011 presentation at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The theme was "spirit of the water" with inspiration derived from the American Southern Coast, and Nautica delivered with the sporty, nautical style that has made this megabrand famous. Looks were broken down into beachwear and casual attire. Madras plaid, boat shoes, and light blazers atop preppy polos abounded. The swimwear featured mostly bold primary colors like red and yellow, some colorblocking and flag prints, while the suit jackets, poplin shorts, button-downs and other sportswear spoke of spring in understated shades of red, white and blue with lots of plaid, tan, seersucker and the occasional pop of pink. It's a tough job, covering all these shows, but somebody's gotta do it.

Click through to see the complete collection.