How fashionable is Fashion Week 2011 at Lincoln Center?

It's that time of the year again when the fashionistas take over New York City, but this year, the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2011 has a twist as the iconic Bryant Park locale is history and the Mecca of style and fashion has been erected at Lincoln Center. Due to my VIP access pass given to me by MAC, I was backstage while all the glitz and glamour was being processed, but the heavy buzz wasn't about the designer's vision or the color palette this season, it was centered on the move over to Lincoln Center and how it's being embraced. I discussed the topic with several people who had strong opinions and were eager to share them.

Space was an issue during Fashion Week at Bryant Park, and housing all the shows at such a small venue seemed to have outgrown the iconic New York haunt. It was time for a change. According to fashion blogger Charu Suri of ButterflyDiary.com, whose tweets from the shows celebrated the change, "The space was too small at Bryant Park and couldn't accommodate the numbers attending the shows. Now, along with the live-feeds they're providing, it seems as though they got their act together." And quickly touching on the topic of live feeds, it seems that the move over to Lincoln Center also enhanced the social media portion of Fashion Week 2011, as bloggers from across the globe were welcomed by the designers, makeup artists and anyone who had a hand in making the week-long event a success. According to makeup artist Victoria Stiles, "Bloggers are finally being embraced as a full media force, and it's about time."

Yesterday, while waiting for the Gottexx show, I ran into style maven Rosemary Ponzo, founder of Rosemary Ponzo Designs, who is as iconic to Fashion Week as Bryant Park. Rosemary quipped, "The move is wonderful, and you don't get your heels caught on the floors here!" And as I strolled through the venue with its spacious feel and vibe, I admit, the space is alluring, with various hotspots set up for blogging, wifi and snacks. The most utilized section was its futuristic-looking kiosk designed to allow people to check-in with a quick scan of their invites enabling them to skips long lines in order to enter a show. It seems that the move was smart, needed and most importantly, embraced by fashionistas all around.