-- Photo: Custo Barcelona

As New York Fashion Week's (NYFW) iconic tents at midtown Bryant Park went up for the last time on Feb11, snow and the death of British designer Alexander McQueen threatened to put a dampener on the fall/winter 2010 shows.

Then there was the end-of-an-era backdrop.

Following disputes with park management over issues such as space constraints, NYFW will move to Lincoln Centre next season.

The fashion week had been held at Bryant Park since 1993.

However, this is New York City, known for its resilience, so it was not long before things were back with a buzz.

After all, this is one of the world's Big Four fashion weeks, along with London, Milan and Paris.

And so, as the wintry weather subsided over the week, guests swopped clunky snow boots for statement-making, sky-high stilettos.

SENSE OF BELONGING

The paparazzi was kept on its toes by the eclectic celebrity quotient.

Top faces included hipster celebutantes like Peaches Geldof and Leigh Lezark, bloggers Bryanboy and Tavi Gevinson and a slew of American TV personalities.

American-based labels known for their utilitarian appeal may lack the creative punch of their British and Parisian counterparts, but the sensuous, structured-meets-soft silhouettes seen proved why they remain a fashion force to be reckoned with.

The week came to a close last Thursday and now NYFW's future is unknown as it is set to move.

Bryant Park, located along the busy Sixth Avenue stretch, had been considered the most prestigious - and, in turn, expensive - venue to show at.

Indeed, the New York Times' Eric Wilson asked: 'Can Lincoln Center...ever give fashion designers the same sense of belonging as did Bryant Park?'

Since the spring/summer 2010 season last September, make-up giant M.A.C and New York photography studio Milk have been producing a separate - if at times conflicting - schedule that attracts younger, hipper names.

This season's M.A.C At Milk line-up included the wacky Jeremy Scott, prince of prep Band Of Outsiders and Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B label.

If the way NYFW braved winter and woe this season showed anything though, it was that the show must - and can - go on.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.