“Fall got very serious,” Lippes said a few days before his spring show. “I want to have fun with clothes.” And what’s more festive than spangles? Lippes opened with a shirtdress covered in punchy black and white paillettes and a kicky ombré skirt. A series of strong black, white and gray looks followed, but color proved to be key. Fluorescents — fuschia, electric blue and yellow — inspired by MoMA’s recent Color Chart exhibition brightened up everything from a silk romper to a knit tank embroidered with multicolored discs meant to imitate Smarties candy. Yes, the collection had a sweet side, but of the delightfully sportif sort, via tennis sweaters and terrific silk running shorts. Overall, the collection was as upbeat and interesting as it was wearable. Well, for the most part. “I don’t know where you’re going in this,” said Lippes of a yellow dress fully embroidered in chunky Lucite baubles. “Probably Miami.”

tags:

• spring 2009
• , scoop neck
• , stripes
• , black and white
• , sheer
• , white
• , clothing
• , womens
• , cover ups
• , shorts

sky azure wunder stripe printed silk chiffon halter gown with embroidery detail. shop our women's ready to wear collection.

tags:

• gucci
• , spring 2009
• , empire waist
• , gold
• , maxi dresses
• , open back
• , cruise collection
• , horizontal stripes
• , gow
• , long sleevs

The designer wowed her audience by tossing aside any niche notion of what Lela Rose is all about. She has eclipsed her rather prim party clothes with what one might call quirky sportswear. Dressed-up sporty? Certainly. And still hip enough to be perfect for those young ladies who lunch in the Meatpacking District. They would love her effortless mixes: thigh-high organza peplum skirts with offbeat printed tanks; perfectly cut cotton tweed shorts with a silk faille track jacket. The designer’s slightly hippie edge — think ikat, dip-dyeing and beads, all polished to a high shine of sophistication — makes this her best collection ever. The ease is evident, too, in her latest flirty signature dresses, among them the patch-embroidered cotton, drop-waist tank version and abstract plaid T-shirt shapes, which all reflect Rose’s newfound freedom.

tags:

• off-white
• , maxi dresses
• , grey
• , asymmetrical
• , gray
• , metallic
• , lela rose
• , sweetheart neckline
• , womens
• , fitted

Add Note Yigal Azrouël likes things just so, but definitely not prim. In fact, he is a perfectionist when it comes to making his clothes “not too perfect.” “I want them to look like they have experience,” he said during a studio visit this week. “Like [they] got kind of damaged. I think it makes [them] look cooler.” To wit, his spring collection was full of the rumpled, nonchalant clothes — leather jackets, silk cocktail dresses and slouchy pants — in a dusty palette and washed fabrics for the worn-in look his clientele craves. Here, batik prints and sarong skirts worked the bohemian side of Azrouël’s downtown ethos. As always, his signature jerseys will have broad appeal, but there were some awkward moments in drab sack dresses and tricky high-waisted pants. While that might tickle the extremely hip, it will likely leave those who don’t get it feeling hopelessly uncool.

tags:

• womens
• , gray
• , crewneck
• , yigal azrouel
• , loose
• , dolman sleeves
• , floor length
• , wwd
• , geometric prints
• , maxi dresses