May 20th was Li Edelkoort’s presentation of trends for 2009 /10 at Parsons. It was absolutely exuberant. One of her big inspirations was eccentric style icons : think Isabella Blow, Diana Vreeland and Iris Apfel. These women are collectors of fashion as objects.  Such as, hats as sculpture, huge chunky jewelry from all over the globe, Kimonos worn as coats, etc. Their emblematic styles embraced high and low, like costume jewelry mixed with real diamonds, vintage mixed with Couture. The look is about personal style not fashion.
Pictures below come from the book "Rare Bird of Fashion " by Eric Boman, Thames and Hudson. The Rare bird in question is Iris Apfel whose collection of clothes and jewelry were featured at the costume institute at the MET a few years ago. The show had no catalogue, so many people wrote to Harold Koda, the chief curator,  that two years later the book was born.  I am working on being more eccentric now that I am fifty.  -  Sarah Frank