Roy Joy

A old favorite is new again. Underdog, Rachel Roy is becoming quite the buzz at New York Fashion Week this year. Still no runway, she opts to do photoshoots. I don't know if this is because of the price tag that comes with being in the tents, or because she wants the focus to be on the clothes and not the elaboration of the show. Either way, I'll be looking at it online.

For those of you who don't know who she is, she is a Manhattan-based fashion designer, put on the scene when she married Damon Dash back in 2005.

For Fall 2009, she stated,"Bottom line, I wanted it to be strong." And that it is. Her line is very neutral, grown-up, and sexy. She got rid of a lot of the bells and whistles, and focused on design elements. Critics are a little bothered by her choice of hair and makeup (loudly resembling YSL's Fall 2008 show) but they are saying it is very sophisticated and beautiful. And I agree.

See more on Rachel Roy at www.nymag.com.