Emu: One Show Where the Models Don't Trip in Their Shoes

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After a week of the glitz and glamour of Lincoln Center shows like Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera and DVF, it was odd to find ourselves at The Metropolitan Pavilion (in the right room this time) for the Australian brand Emu's first New York runway show, hosted by STYLE360. There, the runway models were dressed much more casually than the crowd who was watching them.

The Emu models strutted, well, clomped, down the runway in Emu's sheepskin boots and the type of clothing a fashionable person might wear doing something rugged and outdoorsy (if fashionable people actually went outdoors). Fortunately, since they were wearing Emus, none of these models were at risk of tottering over in their footwear, the way Christian Siriano's Payless clad girls did.

Emu's apparel collection included shearling, suede, and leather outerwear, casual sweaters, jeans, and winter accessories, like hats and earmuffs. Almost all were in neutral shades and simple straightforward styles—although a few attempted to go edgier with asymmetrical front closures. The collection's shearling-lined, hooded vests were some of its most stylish pieces.

Not surprisingly, the company's raison d'état, its footwear, made more of a style statement than its apparel. Emu's CEO, Peter Abbott, told us that although many people thought the shearling lined boot craze would have died out by now, women's love of the boots, combined with the company's goal of constantly improving them, has kept them from being just another passing fad. Thanks to Emu's technological research, the suede is now waterproof (no more soggy feet!). Plus, their designers have added new colors—including green and aubergine purple, and new styles—like a wedge heeled boot which wouldn't have been completely out of place in a few of the Lincoln Center runway shows this season.

We didn't have a clue which celebs would be front rowing at the Emu show—as the only person we've ever associated with emus, was the late Rod Hull—a legendary English comedian who performed with a hilarious Emu puppet. But, as soon as we arrived, we spotted SVU's gorgeous Tamara Tunie and current and former Jersey Shore-ites Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola and Angelina Pivarnick. All were attired in Emu boots. Twilight's Chaske Spencer was also there. Seated near them, in the front row, was Fashion Week regular, Cognac Wellerlane (see photo), the heavily made-up "TV Personality." Somehow, we just can't picture her wearing Emu's attire with that blond beehive.

· All Fashion Week Coverage [Racked]
· Emu [Official Site]
· Emu will show at fashion week [Racked]