When Devi Kroell decided to open her New York flagship, there was one thing she knew, “I didn’t want it to look like anything else on Madison Avenue.” Almost two years later, mission is definitely accomplished.

To create her vision Devi enlisted Space 4 Architecture and they worked closely together. Architect Ulderico Micara told us, “Because of what Devi does she has such a fantastic knowledge of details and materials. And the materials needed to be in tune with her designs. She was so right on the money.”

My favorite part of the design was the amazing patterned Siberian oak floor. But the polished brass and cathedral ceilings are quite cool too, especially when looking down through the glass on the second floor. The feel is definitely very serene which Devi said was one of her goals. And while it’s modern and minimalist, it’s not in the least bit cold. “The combination of the modern lines with the warmer materials creates a certain coziness,” says Ulderico. Indeed.

There’ve been a record amount of presentations this week - a trend we love so long as it never signals the death of the proper runway.

However, depending on how and where the models are arranged the system can either be perfect or disastrous. In the past three days Chris Benz, Devi Kroell and Betsey Johnson have all employed the same idea - stick all the models on a stage at one end of the room and let the crowd angle for the best possible view. Presentation rule #1: make sure your models move in and around your audience if they’re not elevated above the crowd otherwise it’s impossible for those of us below 5’8” to see anything.

Anyway, even though I had to hold my camera high above everyone else (pushing to the front is even worse) Devi Kroell’s presentation looked pretty. They propped up white cut out waves in Cedar Lake and had models moving in and out of them in front of the crowd. The clothes were cute, very ruffly, shiny and said something like, “I’m a demure party girl.”

When we walked into the Devi Kroell presentation fashionably late at 6pm, we were surprised to find a row of models exiting off a runway, one by one. For a second we thought we’d missed it. Thankfully, Devi Kroell’s presentation was more like a runway show in slo-mo running on a loop. After a short pause filled with the beating of eastern-style drums, the models began filing out again.

In her own words, the collection represents the “quintessential New Yorker.” We’d like to stick “put together” and “insanely stylish” in there, too. The colors were a rich combination of marigold, deep turquoise and plum and the textures were just as sumptuous - mohair jackets, velvet blazers and shiny pants.

Plus the gold runway kind of made us feel like we were at Studio 54. And what’s more New York than that?

—HAYLEY PHELAN