Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Gareth Pugh

The Ultimate Scene Stealer! That is what best describes Gareth Pugh's showing at Paris Fashion Week 2010. The London Club boy turned costumier has at last proven his capabilities of being an accessible designer. Enhanced by the cool goth-like theme, the models were completely in their stride as they played into the high octane theatrics courtesy of Pugh's self proclaimed Palais de Tokyo show. The color scheme was consistently muted with a range that played on different shades of gray and, brown and blue. Gauzy dresses, chiffon pieces and sheer fabrics were coupled with one-of-a-kind accessories which included lace-up leather leggings and feathered headpieces. Gareth Pugh pulled off his most refined production to date without losing his edge, proving there are more goodies to come from this budding designer.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Fendi

It seems that the theme for Milan Fashion Week hinders on the unexpected pleasure and lightness of being in love. The "walking on air" vibe is paramount for the energy of all the shows so far and Karl Lagerfield continued the tradition for Fendi on Sunday. His gorgeous gamines were fitted with sheer gauzy fare dipped in the usual spring pastels. Some of the outfits seemed to hinge on the lingerie effect making the overall production echo the desire of a woman in love and using her natural style to demonstrate her satisfaction. Chiffon blouses and dresses whisked by and short skirts cut high enough to reveal voluminous legs and a tapered waist. If Spring is the beginning of great expectations, then Fendi will certainly be a good place to start.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Gucci

Being a well dressed woman entails effortless style and loads of confidence. Frida Giannini of Gucci relentlessly drove that image home for her Spring 2010 collection. Gucci has always been known for its sleek refined silhouettes and there was plenty of that on display. Giannini noted that she wanted this line to reveal a "dynamic and coherent vision of modern femininity". If this is any indication of what the future holds for all the fashionistas out there then there is a lot to look forward to. Again, there was a lot attention paid to the unique contours of the female form. From high-waisted pants that focused on leg elongation to dynamic cut out dresses of modest colors and fun prints, there was a lot to be celebrated. When it comes to a woman using her beauty and brains to take charge of the board room - Gucci is the word on the street.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Versace

It was a fantastical showing by Donatella Versace at her Spring 2010 production. There was a sense of fairytale romance in the air with the swishing of flowy and airy fabrics in pastel colorful hues and inspiring prints gliding down the Runway in a magical flash. Versace is a name synonymous with sex appeal which has always made the famed label a favorite of the Red Carpet. But this time around the sexual tone was brought down a notch to reveal simple elegance at its best. There was still some touches of glamour with the usual embellishments, metallics, and leather. There was also a healthy mix of short dresses, graphically cut to reveal either a sliver of leg or shoulder, and long gorgeous gowns with some featuring the empire waist detail encrusted with silver metallic. There was no shortage of the high voltage energy that usually accompanies a Versace display. One thing is for sure after this viewing - Love Is In The Air.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani, the Italian mulit-faceted genius behind the Armani label powerhouse is at it again with his regal display of excess sexiness reminiscent of the 80's. He has always emphasized his need to be "hands on" when it comes to his method of production. And from the look of things he took his job very seriously. Again, legs and body form were the themes of the day. Fluffy, puffy dresses featured in mainly short lengths and every geometric cut possible blazed the Runway. The patterns and colors were also lively and feminine. He continued his love affair with well tailored suits that celebrate the female form. He played up every outfit with shiny embellishments, printed scarves and graphic patterns and shapes. Not everyone can go where Armani boldly dares to go. But thats what makes him the Master.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Prada

Milan Fashion Week kicks into high gear with the ultra cool and high altitude chicness of Miuccia Prada's much beloved line. The Runway set boasted incredible dramatics. With the brilliant use of giant projections, the audience had the pleasure of being transported to dreamy locales, from the beaches to a sexy chandelier lit room. Imagination and sex appeal was the theme of the day. The stunning display of outfits echoed those exact sentiments. Take note ladies! You have to be in amazing shape to venture into the world of Prada with comfort and ease. If you have legs that go on for days, then you are in luck because that was the basic requirement for all the outfits showcased on the Runway. The colors were bold and muted and the drapery sleek and polished with sprinkles of crystals encrusted on most of the accessories. This line demonstrated that a woman can have undeniable sex appeal and still be taken seriously. So for the job of donning Prada: Only Sexy Women Need Apply!

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Luella

One of my favorite eras was beautifully recalled on the London Runway when British designer Luella Bartley showcased her candy girls for all the world to see. The Sixties are alive and chic again! Puffy party dresses were featured, some sporting polka dots and sweetheart necklines while others looked like they were dipped in a sugary syrupy mix as they sashayed down the catwalk boasting effortless chic. The girls all had the adorable bow detail in a variety of colors implanted in a their hair. To offset all the prettiness was the dramatic use of bold statements with the black rose print dress and a healthy mixture of graphic and diagonal fabrics and cuts. It was purely magical fun!

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Matthew Williamson

It was an absolute scrumptious delight witnessing the mouthwatering confections on display presented by English designer Matthew Williamson. Every design highlighted Williamson's appetite for the perfect cocktail dress. He is the master of tailored perfection. And he also knows how to recruit the right utensils to complete his masterpiece. There was no shortage sequins and sparkles to help up the ante. It was full on decadence! He also hyped his trademark futuristic mod-look with looks that featured cutouts and ruched details. Any woman lucky enough to don a Matthew Williamson number will most likely get spotted in a crowd. And thats why this beloved designer is likely to be around for a long time to come.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Doo.Ri

Once again we are dazzled by the subtle elegance that seems to be designer Doo-Ri Chung's trademark. Her 2010 collection echoed her desire to re-affirm the fact that the woman should wear the clothes and not the other way round. She didn't stray very far from her muted color scheme. The cuts were precise enough to allow room for well pressed pleats. And her use of tulle added a soft and delicate texture mixed in with the right level of sexiness to the cobalt blue bondage dress which proved to be the crowd pleaser of the show. It was an awfully pretty and elegant display of simplicity at its finest.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez has always been a lover of the female form. Celebrities have raved about the famed designer's uncanny ability to enhance and accentuate a woman's curves. He absolutely did not disappoint his legion of fans on the Runway Wednesday night. Aside from his usual flirty and free-flowing gowns that have been his standards, he followed the body-conscious craze that has gripped most of the Spring 2010 shows by putting his own spin on the tapered look. Nicely fitted silhouettes gripping mostly the top section matched with a looser almost balloon-like bottom. His skirts had pockets giving them a boxy shape but the cuts were specific enough to allow them to cascade in an elegant manner. The hues were bold and neutral and the complex mix of fabrics included silk, linen and jacquard. The goal of the show was to present a collection that was alive, refined and worthy of attention. Once again Narciso Rodriguez more than delivered.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Continuing his everlasting theme and loyalty to the arts, Phillip Lim allowed two art shows he particularly enjoyed this summer inspire his latest creations. The London exhibition of Guy Bourdin's work helped birth the breathtaking lipstick red suit that opened his show and the "Picasso:Mosqueteros" display at the Gagosian Gallery in New York helped guide him in the right direction when it came to his unique mix of patchwork and deconstructed patterns. The colors were futuristic in their texture but yet soft and feminine which is generally hard to pull off. Maybe thats due to the fact that he made good use of rich fabrics like organza and lace among others. It was a pretty lineup that no doubt satisfied the appetite of all his fans.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Badgley Mischka

The designing duo of Mark Badgley and James Mischka have always been able to consistently deliver their own heightened brand of glamour. For their Spring 2010 runway show, they managed to honor that beloved tradition. The looks were transitional, from nicely contoured tweed suits and dresses that oozed feminine charm to lovely flashy gowns drowned in splashy hues of pink and lavender among others. The designers admitted being inspired by the club scene of the Fifties Cuban era and the heated nights of Palm Beach. And this is demonstrated in their dominant use of the white ruffling detail, silk shantung fabric and the detailed beading work that highlighted a lot of their looks. There were no real surprises here but there is no question that this well respected designing team passed this test with flying colors.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Carolina Herrera

"I feel pretty, Oh so pretty". Those lyrics from the musical West Side Story could accurately describe the emotions that may possess you when you don one of Carolina Herrera's lovely confections. Her collection was the height of modernity and chic while still recalling the level of sophistication she has always been respected for. But this time around she vacated her comfort zone for a startling twist on the Japanese themed woven basket look that was heavily displayed in almost every look on the runway. Her use of particular fabrics from raffia to open weaves seemed to reveal the texturized complexity of the woven "Japanese basket look" and only Herrera with her unique ability of interpretation could make such a "unique" statement work so elegantly. But she did go back to the standards with some of her looks hindering on the more softer side with moveable and flowy dresses with just a hint of the evening's primary motif. The colors were coppery, satiny, bright and lucid. And she proved once again why she is still the Queen of Chic.