Tim Hamilton S/S 09

Foregoing the routine runway song and dance, New York menswear up-and-comer Tim Hamilton opted to throw a cocktail party & presentation in the penthouse of the West Village's Milkhouse Studios - complete with James Murphy and Pat Mahoney of DFA/LCD Soundsystem to supply the background beats. Like familiar characters straight out of a Bret Easton Ellis novel, the group of sharply dressed young models stood atop white blocks sporting sunglasses, chiseled good looks and wet hair slicked back into pompadours. The air was thick with the type of sexual tension that occurs when attractive young men and women stare awkwardly at one another while indulging in gin & tonics.

In a palette of mostly black, white and neutrals (with the addition of the designer's self-created "Hamilton Blue" - whatever that means) the collection featured plenty of looks that stylish girls will want to steal away from their boyfriends, including cashmere cardigans, striped tanks, black and white striped terry shorts, perfectly tailored blazers and two-tone bibbed button-downs. "I wanted to create shapes that are gender ambiguous but inherently masculine," Hamilton commented on his inspirations, which also included the cryptic works of 1960s artist Frank Stella. "Spring '09 is my take on futuristic street wear where boundaries are erased." Also fun were the striped clingy-in-all-the-right-places wool cotton long johns, and the juxtaposition of the grungey, punky lace up combat boots and futuristic metallic trench coats with the preppy pleated trousers made of seersucker and linen. With its feminine details and elements of mod, punk and wealthy '80s hooligan, Hamilton's S/S '09 collection's got something for everyone.