Presidents Obama and Bush weren’t the only ones paying tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11. On the tenth anniversary of that fateful day, several designers also paused during their shows to remember the terrorist attacks.

Lela Rose was one of the first designers to show in Lincoln Center on Sunday morning, and before her event began, the house lights dimmed and John Lennon’s “Imagine” played in its entirety. When the lights came back on and the first model hit the runway, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

Gwen Stefani dedicated her L.A.M.B. presentation to the victims of 9/11, as did Bono and Ali Hewson at EDUN. The program notes for the Bespoken menswear presentation, which is designed by two sets of brothers, read: “Amidst the hectic schedules around New York Fashion Week, we would like to take a moment to honor and respect the men and women whose lives were lost on 9/11. Our lives will be forever impacted.”

Diane von Furstenberg dubbed her Spring 2012 collection “Beginnings,” and carried several small American flags as she took her post-show lap around the runway, handing them to guests Valentino and Oscar de la Renta and pledging to make a donation in each guest’s name to the September 11th Families’ Association.

At DKNY, Donna Karan not only included a heartfelt love letter to “Our beloved city, New York. Our inspiration” in her program notes, but the collection itself seemed inspired by American patriotism (heavy on the red, white, and blue sportswear). The Donna Karan company also made a donation to Action America, an initiative to unite and activate Americans everywhere to turn the events of 9/11 into positive action.

They were small gestures, to be sure. But on this momentous – and emotional – anniversary, they encouraged showgoers to remember that which should never be forgotten.

Lauren David writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

I knew something was afoot when I arrived early to the Imitation of Christ show Thursday and saw interns scurrying around scattering rose petals on the stage (which was decorated with a garland-strewn canopy) and down the center aisle of the ballroom at the W Hotel in Union Square. As if that wasn’t enough of a tip-off, standing in the corner was a dude dressed as a priest. Turns out Father Andrew O’Connor is a real ordained Diocesan priest, and had agreed to officiate at the fanciful wedding dreamed up by IOC designer Tara Subkoff to showcase her Spring 2012 collection.

As the It Girl wedding guests (including Susie Bubble, Natasha Lyonne, Cory Kennedy, Byrdie Bell, Arden Wohl, and photographer Ellen von Unwerth) looked on, singer Natalie Rose LeBrecht sang a lovely a cappella version of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding,” and out came a tuxedoed groom and best man, followed by a flower girl in a pretty embroidered dress, who tossed more petals as she strode toward the altar. Several dozen bridesmaids followed, all dressed in beautifully ethereal IOC confections that recalled garden party frocks from the Thirties and Forties (think: floaty feminine dresses with delicate beading, lace, and lingerie-inspired details in dusty shades of blue, cream, and blush). Best of all, the models were actually smiling – a rarity at most fashion shows.

Then a string quartet struck up the familiar notes to “Here Comes the Bride,” and, well, there came the bride: model/actress Lydia Hearst-Shaw in an elegant lace gown with a figure-flattering corset. As Father O’Connor advised the bride and groom to “imitate Christ for one another” (meaning: strive to be the best they can be and to see the best in each other throughout their marriage), it was easy to forget this was not a real wedding, and more than one hardened fashionista got tears in her eyes. Then he pronounced them man and wife, the “newlyweds” kissed, and the crowd erupted in a huge heartfelt cheer. Huzzah!

Between the sun-dappled ballroom, the gorgeous gowns and the beaming bridal party (all two dozen of them) this was one of the most joyful, feel-good fashion events I’ve ever attended. “I miss my old shows,” Tara told me after the show. “And I wanted to give people something in the spirit of that – something fun and beautiful – to start the week!”

Mission accomplished.

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

So it’s time for the second half of my Resort roundup, focusing on the shows – and showroom appointments — that took place in the later half of June.

Chris Benz presented a colorful Bermuda-inspired collection, full of the whimsical prints and piled-on textures that have become his signature. Multi-hued dresses were nipped at the waist or hung loose from the shoulders, bold patterned maillots had sheer matching cover-ups, and quirky short-sleeved sweaters were designed to ward off the chill during midwinter Caribbean getaways. All were worn with Alejandro Ingelmo platforms or metallic sneakers and Patricia Underwood wide-brimmed hats.

Things were short and sweet over at Erin Fetherston. The designer offered a range of separates (trousers, coats, skirt suits, even knits) in the first Resort collection for her lower-priced line, Erin, but dresses were the star of the show. The newly-cropped designer walked editors through the collection personally while two models showed off her latest looks, which are meant to take you from New Year’s Eve to mid-winter vacation and right on into spring (think: one-shoulder, zebra-striped dresses, elaborately pleated strapless frocks, and enough LBDs to make modern-day Holly Golightlys swoon with delight).

Marc by Marc Jacobs was all about controlled sexiness, with a collection that ranged from beachy floral dresses to more sophisticated cocktail looks. And the accessories — neon quilted bags, stripey patent platforms, and quirky-cool headphones and iPad cases — were spot on. All told, just the thing to take you from St. Barth’s to The Standard in style.

Downtown diva Daryl K took early 20th century British socialite/designer Lady Duff Gordon as her inspiration, updated for 21st-century trendsetters. This translated into split-seamed jodhpurs, sexy leather jackets, draped jumpsuits, and artfully shredded chiffon-and-velvet dresses (a nod, perhaps, to Lady Gordon’s having famously survived the sinking of the Titanic).

“Jean Harlow in Motion” was the muse for Nima’s Resort outing, which boasted skinny fuchsia trousers topped by a tangerine shell, black-and-white double breasted tuxedo dresses, and slouchy grey trousers worn with a gold-embroidered button-down. Miss Harlow would surely approve.

M.PATMOS, meanwhile, offered up a collection based on postcard sunsets, ’70s dancehall reggae musicians, and memories of seaside vacations. To wit: easy knit separates, reversible ombré silk shifts, and sequin-trimmed cardigans in dusty shades of citron, rust, camel, and gold.

Up-and-coming label Silvio Liu based its collection on the idea of melted ice cream and spilled milkshakes, which explains the drips of yellow and pink on white linen and cotton/poplin dresses, all rendered in effortlessly elegant silhouettes. I especially loved the throw-it-on-and-go twist-front dresses. So chic!

Rebecca Minkoff, she of the covetable rock-chic bags and shoes, presented her first-ever Resort collection at her Flatiron District studio, complete with modernized urban cargos, a marble-print mini shirtwaist, and day-to-night grey lace shorts, all toughened up with edgy sandals and studded leather bags.

And Suno designers Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty unveiled a delightfully quirky collection inspired by the classic Hawaiian tourist look. In their capable hands, however, loud floral tunics and “texting tourist” prints looked oh-so-stylish. And their mash-up of flowered skirts with plaid shirts somehow managed to read more chic than kitsch. Ditto a pair of sequined postcard print dresses, which conveyed a sense of charming, left-of-center style.

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

Most designers take a low-key approach to the Resort season by presenting their collection in a showroom setting to an intimate, by-appointment-only group of editors and buyers. Not so for Stella McCartney, who always hosts a big party to debut her Resort offerings. And this year was no different.

Stella & co. took over St. Luke’s in the Field in New York’s West Village last week to host a seriously fun beer garden party. Guests entered the garden – which adjoins a school – through a brick archway festooned with balloons. Inside, leggy young models wearing Stella McCartney Resort looks mingled with a crowd that included Bono, Estelle, Liv Tyler, and Naomi Watts, along with editors from every major fashion mag and department store in town.

Everyone was nibbling tasty veggie hors d’oeuvres, drinking beer or lemonade, and watching models play ping-pong or croquet. There was a Scrabble board set up on one picnic table (with tiles spelling out S-t-e-l-l-a  M-c-C-a-r-t-n-e-y), a festive piñata hung from a tree branch, a pretzel cart, a shaved ice stand, a live band, and bottles of bubbles for all, which the kids in attendance were running around blowing with abandon. Fun!

The grown-ups, myself included, were having more fun ooh-ing and ahh-ing over Stella’s collection, which features bold striped and floral dresses and sharply tailored suiting alongside some seriously sexy (faux leather) accessories. I especially loved the floral-print tote bags and neon-trimmed “snakeskin” shoes.

Alas, I’ll have to wait ‘til November to get my hands on those puppies. But I did nab a little pot of roses (Stella’s version of a goodie bag), which is now soaking up the rays in front of my living room window, keeping the good garden party vibes going all summer long.

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

Ooh la la – get a front row seat at the Yummie Tummie fashion show we sponsored alongside the City of Hope women’s luncheon in NYC. Here, models debut some of the latest, figure-flattering favorites from this season’s collection. Check it out and tell us what you think.

We were so excited (and incredibly proud) to sponsor the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award Luncheon and Yummie Tummie fashion show in NYC. Not only does City of Hope help a great cause, but the event involved a runway show of one of our favorite woman-friendly fashion essentials. Our reporter, Dani Incropera, went behind the scenes to chat with Yummie Tummie designer and founder Heather Thomson and other high-profile stars. Watch our exclusive footage now: