Desert's Fall

Even in the dead of winter, the Southwest is an inspiring and beautiful place. These almost Native American inspired stripes are drawing my mind there in a serious way. It's an unusual look for fall, but I find it to be both appealing and fresh.

Click on any designer's name to see their full runway show.

Thakoon (Fall 2011)

Proenza Schouler (Fall 2011)

Antionio Berardi (Fall 2011)

M. Patmos (Fall 2011)

Derek Lam (Fall 2011) Malandrino (Fall 2011) Band of Outsiders (Fall 2011) All runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Utilitario

The Pre-Fall 2011 shows are beginning to show themselves...I am always drawn to the Pre-Fall collections, because they show the core of what a designer is feeling at that moment. Not too done up or wild, just straight up design.

The below Thakoon shows where the military trend mashed up with Minimalism to create the simple and flattering Utility look. It was visible in the Spring shows as well, and I'm happy to see it continue. Boxy silhouettes and straight lines with a few over-sized pockets here and there; something so straightforward is hard to dislike!

Click on any designer's name to see their full runway show.

Thakoon (Pre-Fall 2011)

Acne (Spring 2011)

Behnaz Sarafpour (Spring 2011)

Nicole Farhi (Spring 2011)

Sonia Rykiel (Spring 2011)

All runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Luxe, Plush and Lovely

The somewhat surprising resurgence of velvet on the runway is showing another vaguely ninteties reference for Fall. I always found velvet to be a difficult fabric to update, but these designers know how to make it look amazing!

Click on any designer's name to see their full runway show.

Givenchy (Fall 2010)

Thakoon (Fall 2010)

Cerruti (Fall 2010)

Burberry Prorsum (Fall 2010)

Elise Overland (Fall 2010)

Marc Jacobs (Fall 2010)

All runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Blocked Out

Fabric blocking, color blocking, even fur blocking...this trend has been around for a few seasons already, but it's still proving its worth on the runway.

Click on any designer's name to see the full runway show.

Bottega Veneta (Fall 2010)

Thakoon (Fall 2010)


Peter Pilotto (Fall 2010)

VPL (Fall 2010)

Helmut Lang (Fall 2010)

Jonathan Saunders (Fall 2010)

All runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Tied Up

Wrapped up, belted and tied around, there are many lovely bows and ribbons to choose from showing up for the Fall.

Click on any designer's name to see their full runway show.

Thakoon (Fall 2010)

Anne Valerie Hash (Fall 2010)

Givenchy (Fall 2010)

Fendi (Fall 2010)

Chloe (Fall 2010)

VPL (Fall 2010)

VPL (Fall 2010)

Yes, I had to do two from the same show...they were both too gorgeous!

All runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Blizzard Queen

For all of us who are sick of being blasted by winter storms: make yourself feel better by taking some inspiration from these ladies of the tundra!

Click on the designer's names to see their runway show.

Calvin Klein (Fall 2010)

Thakoon (Fall 2010)

Lutz & Patmos (Fall 2010)

Burberry Prorsum (Fall 2010)

Jenni Kayne (Fall 2010)

Marc Jacobs (Fall 2010)