Manhattan is certainly the place to be during Fashion Week, but that doesn’t mean New Yorkers never obtain a bout of nostalgia for the open outdoors. Possibly that’s what hit sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the powerhouse pair behind Rodarte, when designing for spring 2011.

The collection conjures images of the countryside with its array of rich browns, golds, and rustic white and blue patterns, not to declare models rocking wood-paneling superior than the walls of a ‘70s ranch-style loft.

The Mulleavys run to modernize the appear with artful touches, such as cut-out shoulders, structured silhouettes, and a gorgeous golden gladiator get-up.

And gone are the ultra-superfluous tacked-on fabrics—we love this innovative, almost minimal direction that Rodarte is heading in.

Tommy Hilfiger’s last runway show here representatively and nostalgically closed out New York Fashion Week’s run at Bryant Park, and his spring-summer 2011 mens’ and women’s collections, presented on the runways at Lincoln Center on Sunday night was another symbol — but concerning the future.

“We look forward to distribution the next 25 years with you,” said a voice (presumably Hilfiger’s) over the loudspeaker at the begin of the show, which was packed with famous person attendees including Jennifer Lopez, Bradley Cooper, Christina Hendricks and Neil Patrick Harris (sitting left to right in that order, by the way).

The top of the runway was conquered by ivy-covered arches reminiscent of the cover shot from “Take Ivy,” photographer Teruyoshi Hayashida’s 1965 book of photos that captured Ivy League campus style (and that was reissued in August 2010), and the show invitations had arrived nestled in a box with a thatch of faux ivy hedge, but once the show in progress, it was clear that Hilfiger was taking his notion of prep ahead of make that over — the hedge.

Described in the show notes as “twisted country club,” by the preppy roots of the brand as a point of launch pad for the kind of pleasant riffs we’re more used to seeing from fashion designers like Thom Browne and Scott Sternberg.

Afterward, Hilfiger hosted a 25th anniversary party next door at the Metropolitan Opera House, whole with a red carpet lined by models kitted out in the iconic preppy silhouette of navy blue blazer and khaki trousers and a musical recital by the Strokes.

Another trend sprouting up at New York Fashion Week is florals, and no one so far has done them better than Carolina Herrera.

With Herrera’s tasteful treatment, though, there was naught ditzy, dated or dowdy on her runway Monday, even if the bold flowers themselves were enthused by botanical plates from the 18th century.

A crisp white blouse — something Herrera herself often wears to obtain her bow and this show was no dissimilar — was paired with a slim single-fold black pencil skirt with a daisy for daytime sophistication. A lotus-embroidered illusion blouse absolutely complemented a dramatic white ballskirt that featured a double Korean bow, her substitute for grosgrain ribbon this season.

The bow was like to the belt worn on traditional martial-arts ghis.

Herrera said, in fact, in her notes: “The cut and details of this collection were enthused by traditional clothes from Korea.”

Some models wore black straw hats conventionally used by male farmers, and many also had their waists cinched by elaborate acetate belts.

The seed-packet motif on some looks unfocused from the beautiful prints and colors, as well as bold, bright lipstick shades of hot pink and red, but the bird-print folded dress with its slim, chic shape was a winner.

A total of 52 models took to the catwalk at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tents, making an impactful, memorable finale.

Herrera’s well-heeled woman of course will have many choices for the new season, as well as the fabulous shoes by Manolo Blahnik done specially to match this collection.