Taking a breather between his men's and women's shows, Phillip Lim sought not to fall asleep standing up while indulging in a drink at the bar. "I'm on my third wind actually. I like seeing my staff having fun so it's good."

The men's collection featured collarless trenches, snug suit jackets and plenty of leather—from shorts to pants to vests. Drawing on the iconic Brooklyn B-boys, Lim created playful looks. "It was about Fuji rockers—modern day dandies but in a musical sense... I just wanted boys to have fun again," he said. However, while Lim's collection pushed boundaries, what made it notable was its wearability. "With men's [fashion] you push it to a point, but then it's closed.  With guys it's different from women, because you need to be their mother or their best friend—it goes slowly." With his women's show still up this week, Lim teased only that it would be called "Dandylion" and feature similarly whimsical yet strong looks.

Lim's good humor turned serious for a moment when we asked about the recent article comparing him to other rising Asian-American designers like Alexander Wang and Derek Lam. "The only thing we have in common is that we're of Asian-American descent. I was really bothered by that—it's like, 'What, do I make Asian clothes?' I just happen to be Asian." By then the party had picked up; ladies in floating chiffon dresses and classic Lim short shorts were staking out a dance floor between the banquets. Lim, ever the attentive host, insisted that we get another drink and then moved on to take care of a few friends.