Mirror Image

The runways this season are all about hard rock.

I'm not sure how I feel about this because my palette tends to be softer. I like flowy neutral-colored clothing with a bit of pop. But bad girls need fashion too... I guess.

Nonetheless, it's all about short shorts, body-skimming skirts and those odd-looking anklet socks. These looks are perky and colorful, with a definite emphasis on prints. And the models who wear the clothes look as if they are about to pick up a guitar and strum, strum, strum. (I think we are on the verge of rockers losing the GAP look and looking like rockers again, but that's another fashion story).

We'll start with L.A.M.B. Wednesday night's show was packed with celebrities, from Philadelphia's own Eve to Sean "P.Diddy" Combs, along with Stefani's husband Gavin Rosedale and their toddler Kingston James.

Stefani's line had a definite point of view: "The good girl gone bad." This was a collection of short shorts and teeny-weeny metallic skirts and dresses. The graphic prints - black and white checks and circles - sometimes matched the changing back drop, which also morphed to give the audience the imporession that the model was riding on the back of a motorcycle.

In this collection, Stephani married mod with metallics well. It was cute and fun and as I write this, the only reason I wouldn't like it is because I think I couldn't wear it.

Under the direction of creative director Wichy Hasan, Miss Sixty is a perfect example of how a denim line can morph beyond denim. This collection was loud and fun. Jeans were an afterthought as models paraded down the runway in skin-tight leather pants and jumpsuits with MISS 60 emblazoned on them. (For those of us who don't want to rock the tight all-in-one pants and dresses, we can settle for a bag... well, maybe.)

The pieces toward the end were soft. Hasan showed a nice collection of dresses that graced the body nicely. And if the folks at Miss Sixty have their way, banana yellow will definitely be the color of choice next spring.

Maybe these fashions will help me work on my inner bad girl.

The clothes at Fall 2008's New York Fashion Week are particularly striking this season. I'm not a fan of tulle, but this finale Oscar de la Renta gown was amazing. It's so fairy princessy. This collection brough the fantasy back to fashion with the exception of the dark eyeliner. We didn't like that.

We think the clear, jewel tones give these gowns Oscar potential. But don't think about how skinny you have to be to wear them - especially the forest green one with the rocking fishtail, underscored by the black crinoline. It will only depress you.

After 30 years, Betsey Johnson is still Betsey Johnson. But that's cool because a vintage Bestey Johnson can easily fit in her contemporary collection as we saw in a 30 year retrospective of her work following her fall 2008 presentation.
Talk about staying true to your audience.

And at Ports 1961, designer Tia Cibani made me fall in love with rowan, an interesting word for orange.