J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

There are a lot of Little Jackets in this line that I'm unsure about, but I do like the dress under there. It's very Photocall Appropriate.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I'd love to see this one someone like Lupita. With different shoes.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This seems like a dress that will be pulled for a variety of premieres, if not actually chosen to be worn for them.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This is so pretty, if vaguely (sigh) sheer. This color might be pretty on someone like Jessica Chastain.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I have my doubts about the top here, but the pants are groovy.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Someone will wear this to a photocall at Cannes.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I kind of have to reject this.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Very Jane Fonda.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This is sort of Winter on the top, Spring on the bottom, and as thus I find it somewhat perplexing.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I guess one way to make fur appropriate for spring is by...chopping out like 40% of it?

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Paging Emma Stone. Or Jennifer Lawrence! This would be great on her.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I suspect the dress underneath that Little Coat is great.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This is fantastic. Constance Wu wears this color a lot, and she'd look terrific in this.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I personally would not choose to buy a new fur (I have vintage fur that I DO wear), but I think that if you're going to show fur, at least do it in a way that's irresistible. This is not that appealing to me.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Although I do want to touch it.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This is really pretty, and perfect for those actresses whose tastes run toward the gamine, like Michelle Williams.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I like the top layer?

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I generally don't love this color, but I actually think this dress is gorgeous. I want to see it on, say, Taraji P Henson at the Emmys. It would be a little unexpected on her -- she is so often in Alexander Wang lately for the big events -- and so gorgeous.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Kruger?

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I LOVE this color, although I'm not a huge fan of that seam at the hips. If we could edit that out, I feel like this would be appealing on a ton of women. For now, I'll say a post-baby Blake Lively.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Sigh.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I can see Rooney Mara fluttering into the room in this.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Let's put this on Gina Rodriguez for the Emmys? The shape is really pretty and the whole thing is sophisticated in a way that I think would be really lovely on her.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

This is, I think, flat out gorgeous. It would be fun to see J Lo in it -- I love it when J Lo reminds everyone that she is INSANELY ATTRACTIVE and she rarely takes things to this girly level, so it might be a fun change.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

That Little Jacket kind of looks like the top half of a hollowed out soccer ball. However, I suspect that J Mendel has a fairly large non-celeb base of buyers who aren't wild about everyone seeing their upper arms all the time, so it may fill a void.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

One day, things will be lined again. One more day. ONE DAY MORE.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

Seriously, what did I just say? Because this is stunning and would also be stunning if we didn't have to wonder what the underpinnings were. Having said that, I suspect Heidi Klum or Ciara will pop up in this and look WAY BETTER than they have any right to do.

J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017

I also think this is truly gorgeous, and if it were lined...we'd really be in business. Stylists, start your phone calls.

High Fugshion: J Mendel Spring/Summer 2017 at New York Fashion Week

This past NYFW has been an interesting one. Things are a-changin'. Beyond the fact that the celeb quotient has gone WAY down -- I think people are choosing to go to TIFF or just stay home -- a lot of lines seem to be trying to figure out what's next. Some, like Tom Ford and Rebecca Minkoff, are choosing to show lines that actually correspond with the season ahead of us -- fall -- and are making those clothes available for immediate purchase, which, honestly, makes sense. Some aren't doing a runway show at all this season -- Calvin Klein is having a party instead, DVF had individual appointments for editors. Kate Spade, which normally throws a big, fun, highly Instagrammable event, chose to have a much smaller presentation. Badgeley Mishka released a short film; Mischa Nonoo had her entire line premiere on Instagram. Basically, I think everyone is trying to figure out where to get actual bang for the bucks that are in short supply all around, and as such, I'll be VERY interested to see what happens to Fashion Week as a concept over the next five years. If it were me, I would throw a glam party for celebs and certain influencers (covering your Celebrity Bases and getting you good social media coverage), have appointments for small groups of important editors, and then send out free and copious pictures of the line to literally everyone who might want to cover it. I think you'd get the same amount of love and coverage without the agita of a runway show, which is logistically impossible for half the people you want to reach anyway and which costs a fortune. And I say this as a person who covers front rows for a living! Fashion shows are wonderful to attend and really exciting, but I get they they might be falling out of favor with designers. All that said...let's see what J Mendel is hoping to land on celebs this season, shall we? [Photos: J Mendel]