New York Fashion Week SS13: Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hailee Steinfeld Go Racing With Rag & Bone; Cushnie et Ochs Travel to the Philippines

Maggie Gyllenhaal

They provided a Mister Softee truck. They handed out ice-cold Peroni and Perrier. But, alas, that still did not remedy the fact that the warehouse space at Moynihan Station, where Rag & Bone's show was held, felt more hot and humid than it actually was outside. Many in the audience used their invitations and programs to fan themselves. But the heat did not deter the celebrities, which included front-row guests Christy Turlington, actress Hailee Steinfeld, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (Ms. Gyllenhaal, we salute you for wearing a black jacket, black shirt, and black pants).

If there was any upside to the heat, it was that it made it that much easier to be enthusiastic about the desert-ready collection Marcus Wainwright and David Neville sent down the runway. Taking inspiration from the Paris-Dakar rally, the designers blended the toughness of the motocross racer (green cracked leather vests, lightweight ivory satin pants with green stripes up the legs, hot-pink Oakley sunglasses made exclusively for Rag & Bone) with elements of the Bedouin clan (headscarves, lightweight ponchos, macrame trim on shorts and skirts).

The final look of the show, worn by Karlie Kloss, was a hit: a lightweight coral ripstop poncho that covered the head, hugged the waist, and had deep pockets in front (for your canteen, naturally). At that moment, we would have given a lot of money to change out of our soggy clothes and into this practical summertime outfit. As one young lady so perfectly put it afterward: "I can't wait to take a shower!"

Angela Ashman

Cushnie et Ochs

And speaking of cool looks for the heat, Cushnie et Ochs showed many, er, well-ventilated numbers at Milk Studios. From the front row, actress Kate Bosworth took in the parade of 30 formfitting pieces, which featured strategically-placed cut-outs on dresses and sheer embroidered tops. This season, Michelle Ochs and Carly Cushnie borrowed inspiration from the Philippine Islands--a nod to Ochs's heritage. And while most of the collection will not be well received by anyone who enjoys to eat (especially those white barely-there string bikinis--yikes!), there was at least one nice pair of white cotton slacks worn with a loose white blouse with slits up the sleeves that anyone would still look fantastic in after a third helping of lumpia.