I can remember a simpler time, a not-so-technological time, when I would read reviews of fashion shows in the newspaper the next day, photos from the catwalk dull in the newsprint.  A month later, fashion magazines would show highlights of the show from a discerning editor's point of view.  Fast forward to now, with fashion websites, fashion bloggers, street style bloggers, Twitter and Facebook- not to mention shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris with more and more designers every season, suddenly I find myself overwhelmed and confused.  Where should I look to for reviews of the shows? Where should I look for photos of the shows?  Are street style bloggers the fashion world's paparazzi?  Stop the madness!

I've always relied on Style.com, New York Magazine, and the New York Times for my fashion week news. I enjoy reading the reviews and the galleries are easy to browse. But what else is out there in the worldwide web- what can others bring that is different from the traditional ways of reporting fashion week?  I discovered two fantastic, fun and (incredibly) fashionable photo bloggers that bring a new perspective- I love seeing the fashion world through their eyes.  Though I must confess, I am not a huge fan of fashion shows. It makes me sad that after months of hard work, it's over in twenty minutes. I think about the great time, effort and money that designers and brands put in to make a show memorable.  Today, with the sheer volume of designers showing, I think that each season's goal for a memorable show becomes more and more difficult. That is what I love about these two blogs- From Me To You and Garance Doré; they post photos from the shows in different angles- backstage with teams of makeup artists and hairstylists, mood boards, hurried staff setting up; the clothes are also shown in different angles- from the side, a dress from behind, a close-up of detailed beadwork. One can appreciate the great work that goes into each show, and when the designer takes a bow, I cheer as if I attended the show, because viewing the show from these bloggers' perspectives, each show is memorable.

From Me To You is photographer, Jamie's blog, which features photographs of fashion week, work from her ads and editorials, the 24 Hours In page shows photos of her travels, and the Dinner and a Movie page is Jamie's night in with a rental and a dinner inspired by the movie! The blog is visually luscious, filled with all sorts of photographic goodies.  I also love her old-time style with perfectly coiffed hair and red lipstick.  Below are some photos from NY Fashion Week from From Me To You's eyes. Click here for FromMe-ToYou blog.

Photographers setting up for the Prabal Gurung show. Photo: fromme-toyou

Left: Close-up of Oscar de la Renta; Right: Prabal Gurung dress from behind. Photo: fromme-toyou

Left: Embrodiery and feather details of a Prabal Gurung dress; Right: Prabal Gurung's last looks- love the feathered train! Photo: Photo: fromme-toyou

A triumphant end to the Oscar de la Renta show. Photo: fromme-toyou

Garance Doré is a street style blogger, whose boyfriend is Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist (you may remember them from the Valentine's Day/Tiffany's post).  Garance Doré's blog is a mix of street style, photos from fashion week (in New York, London, Milan and Paris), fashion illustrations, and photos and diary-like entries of a few of her favorite things.  Another thing that I love about the blog is that each post is set up individually- so rather than scrolling down to see all the photos from the shows, each post showcases the photos neatly. This season, Garance Doré has a video diary of fashion week called, Pardon My French, in conjunction with Net-a-Porter and BMW.  The videos show Garance going from show to show, hanging out with designers and fabulous fashion friends, and all the fun times that go with fashion week.  Below are some photos from Garance Doré's blog and the Pardon My French video. Click here for Garance Doré' blog.

Snapshots of the shows. Photo: Garance Doré

Street style shots- the handwritten names makes me think of a scrapbook; the blog feels more intimate, like a friend sharing photographs. Photo: Garance Doré

Garance Doré's white jeans. Photo: Garance Doré

I had to share this hilarious parody of Sh*t Fashion Girls Say at NYFW- it perfectly captures the silliness and fabulousness  that is Fashion Week.

I cannot say enough good things about Etsy, the "world's handmade marketplace"; think of it as a virtual arts and crafts fair- full of one-of-a-kind finds, and when you purchase something, you feel good supporting a small business or up-and-coming artist. Etsy is amazing, not just for consumers, but it gives artists, designers, and small business owners a platform to display and sell their wares. One can find anything on Etsy- vintage clothing and furniture, handcrafted housewares, unique pieces from new designers, and handmade jewelry... pretty much anything! I love using Etsy when I think of vintage item (recent searches include goat-hair "yeti" boots from the 70s and a camel-hair cape), Christmas and Valentine's day cards (flowery and vintage or modern and graphic), home accessories for my new apartment, and artwork.

My most recent trip to Etsy was to find a print- I unfortunately lost a watercolor of a nude during my move. The watercolor was cool, fashion-y, sexy, and inexpensive. I simply cannot remember the artist's name, and I unfortunately bought the watercolor on the street, making my internet search nearly impossible.  I turned to Etsy, looking for fashion illustrations. Needless to say, what I found blew my mind.  It's exactly what I've been looking for- and because the pieces are rather inexpensive, I now have the difficult task of narrowing down my purchases. Below are some of my favorites.  Click here for Etsy website.

Etsy shop: Art by Lola. Lola Donoghue is an Irish artist with a background in fashion design, fashion illustration and printmaking. Her work is ethereal, I do love the flashes of color. Click here for Art by Lola's Etsy shop.

Etsy shop: silverridgesstudio. Cate Parr is an English artist/illustrator living in Los Angeles. Her watercolors are vibrant and dream-like- definitely a strong contender in my search for new artwork. Click here for silverridgesstudio Etsy shop.

Etsy shop: DRYBLANC. Leun Lee is a fashion illustrator. Her work is super cool- something I might find in Interview or V magazine. Click here for DRYBLANC Etsy shop.

Etsy shop: Leigh Viner. Leigh Viner is an American artist and photographer. Something about her work makes me think of vintage Vogue magazines, the models remind me of Amber Valetta and Linda Evangelista- another contender in my search.  Click here for Leigh Viner Etsy shop.

Etsy shop: Plasterdoll.  Plasterdoll creates doll-like versions of fashion ads- note the bandage on the model's right temple, I'm not sure what that's about, but I think it humanizes the dolls. Click here for Plasterdoll Etsy shop.

Looking at all the amazing artwork has only confused me more- since the pieces are so inexpensive, I may buy a few and frame them, but which ones... Advice is welcome, and drop a note if you purchased one!