Trust me, you will go Gaga over Mugler’s Fall 2012 collection, as every piece was complicatedly designed and fashioned together in a way that only two modern geniuses could come up with. Creative director Nicola Formichetti and Mugler’s head of women’s designer, Sébastien Peigné took a step into the future with asymmetrical looks, modern peplums, and a lot of edge. Clean and sleek looks came down the runway in the most luxe of materials, such as fox fur and leather. Sheer black fabrics and playful fringe also made a debut for a sexy, yet playful addition. Formichetti and Peigné did not forget to put some bright colors within their collection to brighten up your fall looks, as they included a vibrant red jumpsuit and a tangerine dress with a high slit.

- Ambika Makin

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[Image via Style.com]

Rick Owens

Martyrdom and fashion don’t normally go hand-in-hand, but Rick Owens SS12 runway displayed a sacrificial, spiritual vibe, perhaps with a touch of Owens’ signature dark side and a cynicism. Models, or “electrocuted martyrs” were bonded in sleek, slender gowns and skirts. Black and white, to the extreme, with the occasional rusty-orange, the collection certainly got us thinking about a pure dressing aesthetic, whatever that may mean to each individual.

[Image via Style.com]

Chanel

This season, Chanel keeps it title as a fashion powerhouse, not that we would ever doubt Karl Lagerfeld’s genius for a second. Runway-turned-underwater adventure, the all-white set was extravagantly contrasted by the icy pastels of the clothing. A lot of cream, mint green, baby pink, and dusty blue combined with fluffy skirts that were softly feminine and not a bit prissy. Puffed shoulders were carved out delicately and softly while the house’s signatures such as practical dresses, skirts, boxy tweed jackets, and swimwear naturally took its turn down the runway.

-Alana Quagliariello

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Balenciaga

The show began with short shorts and boxy shoulders, with jackets reminiscent of  high school letterman varsity jackets. Nothing says Balenciaga more than strong shapes, so not suprisingly, Nicolas Ghesquière drew a bit from the past as well as androgyny, paving a distinctive spring 2012 path with high shine fabrics,color-blocking, and asymmetry.

[Image via Style.com]

Balmain

Pastel blue, black leather, a floral motif and delicate embroidery can seem so contradictory, yet young talent Olivier Rousteing blended them together for a gorgeous union. For SS12, Balmain kept the short hem and body-hugging dresses, but slowly introduced sweeping maxis and trousers as well.

[Image via Style.com]

Mugler

With Lady Gaga on board, Thierry Mugler may just have created its own set of provocative little monsters.  There was a fair share of cutouts and a great deal of sparkle, however balance was maintained in the neutral wash of the color palette. Still, we wouldn’t mess with a Mugler woman- she’s tough, strong, and certainly knows what she wants.

-Alana Quagliariello

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[Images via Elle.com]

Valentino

Mention the name Valentino and it’s easy to get visions of the designer’s ultra-famous gowns, à la Julia Roberts in a black and white vintage dream at the 2001 Oscars. And while the house’s current design heads Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri are hardly shy about putting models in fresh, frilly, demure minis, there were a few surprise twists and turns on the Valentino spring 2011 catwalk. There were a handful of looks in…wait for it… denim! It was, nevertheless, the most refined-looking display of denim ever, but it was nice to see something so quotidian done with such class. Trust Valentino to take basic cotton, among many other things, and make it seem truly out of this world.

[Images via Elle.com]

Yves Saint Laurent

Black, white, backless jumpsuits and exposed midriffs with calf-length skirts…it was all about pushing the ends of the YSL spectrum as far as they could reach for Stefano Pilati. A somehow new and inventive trench coat appeared on the same runway as a ruched and ruffled gypsy-eque dress; a blouse fit for a pilgrim was immediately disavowed by the fact that it was completely sheer. It was as if the designer wanted the collection to be omnipresent, to meet any kind of need any woman might have in order to make her mark. Oh, marks were made alright, by Pilati himself and the YSL Spring 2011 woman, though she doesn’t even know it yet.

[Images via Elle.com]

Balenciaga

While Nicolas Ghesquière used items from the house’s long history to influence his designs for Spring 2011, this wasn’t a presentation of how-well-do-you-know-your-Balenciaga — for example, a particular panel leaf dress inspired the shape of this season’s coats. Instead, Ghesquière had slicked and spiked models wearing minimal make-up and bringing a tough masculinity to each look. A smooth, almost serpentine texture on smocked blouses contrasted tailored trousers and scalloped, sleeveless, menswear-style shirts. The designer insisted he was after individuality, and he sure got it.

-Kaci Hamilton

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[Images via Style.com]

Full of bright colors and bold prints, this collection wasn’t suppressed by the wearing moods of the recession. Within this return to luxury, there were at least five opulent purple dresses, each unique with over-sized puff sleeves or large sequin detailing or wave-like draping, which marked marked a turning point in fashion this season. No longer will we surround ourselves in drab monotones and minimalism to the point of boring; black and brown aren’t colors to live a life in, so take instead the colors pieced together in this Spring 2010 collection. The pinnacle of the lavish motif was the show’s final look; a massive navy tulle gown plastered with crystals across the chest, in glorified feminine style.

But what we cannot forget about Oscar de la Renta are his accessories. Creating handbags, shoes, and belts, is nothing new to Oscar, however the new ground this year is his fashion jewelry line. Tapping into his Dominican heritage, many of the necklaces were very ethnic  with braided silk and bright colors like melon and peridot, but there were also some classic gold pieces sprinkled throughout the runway that any woman could easily wear.

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[Images via Style.com]

Chanel

Chanel S/S 2010 was, hands down, my favorite collection of the season. It managed to be fun yet sophisticated and was showcased amidst farm scenery, though the clothes were not overshadowed by the uniqueness of the down on the farm set. The show had a very “Marie Antoinette” feel to it:  a charming and romanticized take on rustic country life full of sweet and delicate dresses paired with a pale color palette of black, red, and blue accents. Though the collection was nothing truly groundbreaking, it stayed true to Chanel’s aesthetic and played up its own trends instead of giving us yet another take on trends we have seen over and over again this season.

[Images via Style.com]

Hermès

Tennis was the theme at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2010 Hermès collection. I wasn’t too keen on the idea upon hearing the pitch for the line, but as soon as I saw the clothes — and, of course, the impeccable bags — I quickly changed my mind. Gaultier delivered a sophisticated, timeless collection for Hermès that is on-trend without veering too far overboard nor disposable once the next season rolls around. Each piece was beautiful, wearable, and effortless, from the tennis skirts to the silver chain-linked belts.

[Images via Style.com]

Alexander McQueen

Appropriately titled “Plato’s Atlantis,” Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 RTW collection was out of this world and was truly one of my favorite shows of the season. Inspired by mankind’s evolution from the sea and the idea that we may someday return, the dramatic collection featured 10-inch heels, belle-skirt silhouettes, braided asymmetrical hairstyles, aquatic colors, and intricate, digitally printed dresses. Evolution is still stuck in McQueens head, and ours, from the Darwinian-inspired collection that featured large to small taxidermied animals framing the runway.  With this collection, McQueen proved he still knows how to put on a show — the hair, makeup, clothing volume (not to mention the shoes!), and overall primitive/futuristic aesthetic were combined in a slightly unsettling, almost scary, way — and the outcome was a brilliantly creative work of art.

-Sarah Nason

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[Images via Style.com]

It must be a great challenge to take a house built on bags to a runway level, but Marc Jacobs proves he can do it, and quite effortlessly; or at least it seems! The Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2009 collection was certainly an upscale ode to the eighties, but done in a way that it didn’t feel old and already done before. Marc has certainly referenced the eighties quite a bit, more recently is his namesake labels this season, but for some reason, the Louis Vuitton collection tended to look more ahead, instead of behind. The necklaces, reminiscent of stapling construction paper into interlocking loops to hang around the Christmas tree, were just splendid, and the boots were an on-trend indication of what is too come, as far as new heights and details, in footwear.

And, lest I forget the headpieces – wonderful exaggerations of bows, or as I’d like to call them, batwings. My two favorite looks were the “Emerald City” tiered dress, practically straight out of Oz, and the amazingly draped, twisted, and knotted grey dress. Kudos Marc – you’ve done it once again (as if we had any doubt).

~Julia DiNardo

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Image via Style.com

So they may not be the most practical of looks, however these embellished tights, found on the runways of Miu Miu’s fall 2009 collection are absolutely stunning. I love how they were made to match the decoration on the footwear, and add an intense oomph to any look. I think I like the cream better than the black, as it is easier to see the detailing against the rib of the tights. I’m not sure if they were made strictly for the runway, or will be for sale, but I can’t help but thinking how to launder them…

-Julia DiNardo

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Tila March is the heartwarming story of one fashion editor’s search for the perfect handbag – functional smarts meets everyday chic. After creating a prototype, Tamara Taichman wore her bag at Paris Fashion Week catching the eye of fellow editors thus in 2006 Tila March was born. In collaboration with her boyfriend leather-goods executive Nicolas Berdugo the designing duo branded Tila March as a combination of the partners’ names plus March, the month they met.

Although there are other styles with the signature tab closure, the Zelig canvas tote style remains the most popular. So coveted is the Zelig that Tila March made a transparent limited edition version with Neon Pink leather trimming for Parisian retailer Colette in 2008. Made of canvas with contrast leather trim the Zelig will take you from office to beach and back again. With the press of a hidden button a clever gusset expands to give you more carrying space. We love the classic simplicity and resort inspired colors, lovely. Also exciting is the shoe collection – think classic Parisian style defined by clean lines with clever cut out straps and butterfly bow details. Pair the Tila March bag with a pair of Charlotte Ronson strappy wedge sandals and oversized shades from Tom Ford and you’re all set for sunny days ahead.

All Images via Style.com

Christian Lacroix

Comme des Garcons

John Galliano

Yoji Yamamoto

Yves Saint Laurent

Jean Paul Gaultier

Lanvin

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