New York Fashion Week 2012 comes to a close

New York Fashion Week isn’t just for New York based fashionistas anymore.

Thanks in part to the Bravo/Lifetime massive hit, Project Runway (whose finale always occurs during Fashion Week), budding fashionistas all over the country are paying attention to the happenings during this week.

In case you missed it, here are 5 stories that might have slipped passed you from NY Fashion Week 2012.

Socialite Zelda Kaplan died in the front row at a show. Kaplan, who was 95, collapsed during Joanna Mastroianni’s show. She gained fame for being a nightlife and fashion fixture, in addition to being a noted philanthropist, who spent close to two decades fighting for women’s rights in Africa. Kaplan fainted as the show was starting. She was taken to Roosevelt Hospital where they failed to resuscitate her. Said Heatherette designer, Richie Rich told The New York Post, “Passing away in the front row was how it was meant to be. Zelda loves fashion so she died for fashion. She would have wanted to go out in style. Zelda always said, ‘live, live, live and have fun’…I hope the angels are holding her right now.”

Occupy Wall Street planned to “Occupy” the Calvin Klein show on Thursday. Because the Occupy movement has to be everywhere these days, they planned to show up at the Calvin Klein show to disrupt and cause a scene by wearing red eye makeup (inspired by the ‘pepper-sprayed’ look) and convince 99 of the show’s attendees to do the same. As expected, it didn’t quite work out. Extra security precautions were enacted and the few protestors that bothered to show up didn’t get anywhere close to the show.

Domestic abuse survivors walked the catwalk. Rather than focus on models tripping on high heels or which starlet was in the front row next to Andre Leon Talley, it’s nice to see a story focusing on the good in people. Bottomless Closet, a non-profit aimed at helping women in need, held a fashion show benefit, using survivors of domestic abuse as its models. Designers donated looks for the 20 women to wear. In a world that’s so often considered nasty and cutthroat, it’s nice to hear stories like this.

Downton Abbey inspires Ralph Lauren. Major American designer Ralph Lauren channeled recent PBS mega hit Downton Abbey for his newest collection. It’s another example of how everything old really is new again. Jodphurs, bowler hats, newsboy suits and top hats were plentiful. So popular was the collection that paper dolls were created based on it.