Max Azria Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of style.com

For Fall 2009, Max Azria was all about incorporating leather, lace and velvet in a black dominated palette, for a sexy, dark mystique, with the first few looks appearing very bondage-like. Dresses were layered over lace, sheer turtleneck bodysuits or paired with suede leggings. Over-accessorizing was encouraged, either with layering pieces, large leather clutches or almost to-the-shoulder long leather gloves. There were square shoulder jackets and dresses and draped jersey dresses that looked like the back of the dress was being worn as the front.

Luca Luca Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of nymag.com

The Fall 2009 collection is “inspired first and foremost by strong women, women with strong character but femininity too. It was a nod a little to the 30s and 40s feeling, more importantly on investment dressing. Clothing that don’t scream a season, but instead can wear in five to ten years and still be relevant to your wardrobe,” explains creative director Raul Melgoza. “In these times it’s really about not giving up luxury but investing in pieces that have a long life in your wardrobe.”

The palette includes gray purple, burgundy, charcoal, teal, gunmetal, slate blue, wine, crimson and black.

Key pieces and fabrics include a tweed coat and pencil skirt, wool dresses and pants, silk jersey dresses, a velvet chiffon gown, silk dresses with beading detail, a mink cropped jacket and fox scarves.

With versatility and longevity in mind, Luca Luca presents pieces that can be worn from day to night, like a charcoal wool off shoulder mitered dress with notched collar jacket. Wool herringbone trousers or wool twill wide legged pants can easily be added into your wardrobe.

As always, Luca Luca dresses are luxurious and elegant, including a gray purple sleeveless paneled silk wool dress with chiffon insets and a crimson red silk jersey one shoulder dress. The last look was a gorgeous sapphire blue strapless gown in silk chiffon with bias mitering.

Listen to the podcast with Raul Melgoza as he talks about the Fall '09 collection.

Miss Sixty Fall/Winter 2009

Photos courtesy of nymag.com

Miss Sixty is back with denim for fall, in black denim acid wash, blue and grey denim in one-pieces and trousers silhouettes. The fall/winter season is inspired by 80s pop/punk, Richard Avedon photographs from the 80s and colorful pop art of Roy Lichtenstein.

The bold palette consists of black, red, electric blue, violet fuchsia, orange, and magazine graphic prints on dresses, jersey t-shirts and leggings. Rose, black and ivory with splatter prints appear on satin tank dresses and tank tops.

Along with denim, there’s an edgy, motorcycle chic leather story with black leather motorcycle gloves and black distressed leather jackets.

A must-have outerwear piece is the black quilted nylon puffer coat, shiny, yet stylishly fit and sleek, instead of puffy and casual. Key accessories include black lace tights, black suede booties with crystal embellishment or black suede platform boots with ruching at ankle, wool felt fedoras and faux fur maxi scarves.

Thuy Fall/Winter 2009

Photos courtesy of mbfashionweek.com

Thuy Fall/Winter 2009 RTW had a major focus on coats, including double collar coats, hook & eye funnel short coats and an embroidered evening coat. Button up and high-neck blouses paired with loose-fit cross-seamed pencil skirts are suitable for work or evening wear. Peak sleeved shirtdresses, sleeveless seamed dresses with side ruching and double breasted dresses with drawstrings are simplistic, with clean lines. Long tuxedo-styled jackets and button-up pleated pants provided sophistication with ease. Many of these pieces are interchangeable in a neutral black, white, grey palette brightened up by optimistic tones of yellow and cobalt blue.

Herve Leger Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of nymag.com

Herve Leger accentuates the female form with iconic bandages and patchwork textures in velvet, snakeskin and boucle. Dresses with exquisite detailing of braided chiffon, metal plate appliqué, chain appliqué and distressed crystal beading form modern works of art.

The palette includes earth tones of black, grey, green, fatigue, taupe, beige, gunmetal, bronze, copper and snake prints, accessorized with black and brown sandals, short and tall boots, snakeskin and suede patchwork bags and leather bags with crystal appliqué inserts or crystal beading.

Key looks include a black snakeskin and bandage patchwork dress, beige snake print bandage dress with metal plate appliqué, black bandage dress with distressed crystal beading, copper chevron bandage dress with beaded shrug and foil bandage dress with metal plate appliqué.

Mara Hoffman Fall 2009

Mara Hoffman’s explains that the inspiration for this season centers around “Once were princes, now are thieves, the idea of royalty that have decided to ride through the night on horses and go as a caravan and be thieves.”

Mara uses silks and wools in vibrant colors and prints, accessorizing looks with jewelry by N’ Jena Surae Jarvis and suede nail gloves by design partner Klee Van Schoonhoven.

The eye-catching print dresses are free-flowing and pairs nicely with a cardigan or wrap sweater. Key pieces include a chiffon native dress, with a studded merino Prince cardigan, wool sergeant coat with detachable skirt and stud legging, and a double knit stud dress. Printed leggings and tights made a strong presence, including must-have instarsia tights.

Listen to Mara talk about her Fall 2009 collection, featured accessories and what the impact of the economy has had on her business.

Sergio Davila Fall/Winter 2009

Sergio Davila's inspiration stems from the “Royal Heart” days of Spain’s 19th Century Vice Royalty. The collection focuses on luxurious knitwear, with elements of neo-romanticism in a black, beige and royal blue palette.

The majority of the collection focuses on menswear – sweaters and cardigans, cotton shirts, light wool jackets and pants, and leg warmer escarpines. A few of the women’s looks include a knitted Charleston dress with contrasting trim and a royal blue gown with a silver rope belt.

Nicholas K Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of nymag.com

Brother and sister duo Christopher and Nicole Kunz of Nicholas K, introduce sweaters, jackets, dresses and leather travel and laptop bags for fall, with a casual, androgynous and tomboyish feel. The pieces are designed to be long lasting essentials in a wardrobe, instead of trendy looks that may only last one or two seasons.

The fall collection can be described as having a “rocker, Mad Max feel, Solarbabies, according to Christopher Kunz. “The line has a slight masculinity to the women’s side and a very rugged men’s collection.”

The smoky palette includes a lot of black, charcoal, beige and khaki on sweaters, pants and plaid shirts, with pops of color on silk dresses – brick, dark mint, purple, saphire, and cinnabar.

Fabrics include “lots of merino wool for the sweaters, silk cashmere blends, wool coats, and a lot of cotton shirtings,” says Christopher.

Listen to the full podcast where Christopher talks about his original background being in biochemistry, not design, and how he and Nicole always wanted to start a business together. Christopher talks about what the most challenging things are about being a designer, challenges in the industry and the effect of the economy and how he started modeling for Nicholas K.

“Pure Colour, Relaxed Elegance” for Lacoste Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of style.com

“I wanted the Fall/Winter 2009 show to focus on the chic and sophisticated side of LACOSTE,’ says creative director Christophe Lemaire. ‘The collection is about pure colour and relaxed elegance. It is warm and comfy, but clearly abstract and less referenced.’

There is an Annie Hall feel, with matching color and fabric ties and shirts, paired with chinos for a masculine look. There are also feminine, comfortably chic looks, including knit jumpsuits and double faced wool coats. Vests, cardigans, turtlenecks and hoodies are layered on, adding extra warmth to the wool-over-wool pieces.

A neutral palette of beige, off-white and grey also include deep blues and greens, as well as mustard yellow.

The monochromatic styling of the looks is modern and sophisticated, very different from the young, sporty style of Lacoste. The cozy new looks for fall would fit nicely into the work wardrobe, with soft hues exuding a relaxed, upbeat feel.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2009

Photos courtesy of nymag.com

BCBG Max Azria’s Fall 2009 collection is all about draped silhouettes and geometric cuts, applying intricate pleating, trapunto stitching, shibori dye and hand painting techniques.

Velvet, wool crepe, liquid jersey, satin and silk jacquard fabrics are seen through a jewel-toned color palette ranging from teal, purple and dusty wineberry, to more muted tones of ivory, cream, grey and black.

Metallic gold and gunmetal tights were shown paired with each dress, adding an elegant, yet futuristic luster and richness to each look. The flashy tights may not be for everyone, but is certainly appealing on those lucky enough to be graced with long, lean legs. There was a grown up air of sophistication with this collection, with dress lengths falling right above the knee, a shift from the mini dresses we are used to seeing from BCBG Max Azria.

Best looks include a dusty wineberry silk drape neck dress with gold tights and taupe pump, purple micro jersey dress with gold tights, grey lucite clutch and black hair calf wedge boot, and as a closing look, a cream silk hammered sating gown, gold tights and taupe pump.