We continue to have a love/hate relationship with New York fashion. For years it was a hot bed for emerging talent and young designers, even putting cities like Paris and Milan to shame. But then, much like the city itself, it became flooded with too much commercialization, corporate interests and unfathomable rents, leaving much of the underground creative class behind. Overall, the past several years have felt bland, unimaginative and most of the excitement has seemed to shift back to Europe. However, like any great metropolis, you can't keep it down for too long. We're not sure if it's "back", but the Spring/Summer 2017 shows have been a nice surprise and there's been more than a few standouts.

One of our favorite presentations is without a doubt Area. This year's finalists of the CFDA/Vogue fashion fun, designers Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk are pure New York glamour. We love their high gloss aesthetic and this season's lucite jewelry and accessories are out of this world. Shiny lamay, tall shoes and pops of all the right colors make for a sophisticated yet sexy rendition of 60's meets 80's in a fresh and modern way. With an e-boutique that just launched, be sure to pick up the brand's current collections now.

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Perennial favorite Katie Gallagher also returns with another strong collection. We have been a fan and supporter of Ms. Gallagher for years (see our interview with the designer here) and her 15th collection is the third and final installment of her all-black series. No argument from us here as she uses the color (or lack thereof) to play with beautiful warm weather fabrics that include seductive sheer tops, skirts and beautifully minimal dresses.

On to more exaggerated looks, we move to New York favorite VFiles. This is a downtown collective that showcases some of the best and most progressive emerging young talent from across the globe. Their shows are one of a kind and generally have a sense of anti-fashion which we can always appreciate. This season's look were filled with strong messages, over the top ensembles and bizarre, surrealism that is the perfect backdrop for an acid trip.

Finally on to one of the biggest presentations, DKNY. The iconic New York brand has been on a corporate roller coaster as of late with a new design team and subsequent sale by LVMH to the G-III Apparel Group. All that aside, design duo Maxwell Osbourne and Dao Yi-Chow delivered a strong collection that brings the brand's minimal athleticism into a sleek, techno-driven future. We fell in love with the sharp blue jackets that looked straight out an 80's sci-fi flick. The transparent over coats and awesome cross body bags make this collection utilitarian chic.

For more collections and designers visit New York Fashion Week.

-JRS