Prabal Gurung's Given Us Much to Look Forward To

Prabal Gurung has made such a mark on the runway that it's hard to imagine Fashion Week without him. But it was only a few short years ago that the Nepalese designer debuted his Fall 2009 collection at the FLAG Art Foundation. He moved his show to the tents by Fall 2010 and had a stint with the CFDA Fashion Incubator, and the rest is history. Once Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, and Sarah Jessica Parker started sporting his prints, he was a household name (and that's not to mention his highly coveted Target collaboration). It's no wonder why so many women flock to Prabal; the harmonious designer — who's also at the helm of ICB — is fearless in experimenting with hues while toeing the line between strength and beauty in everything he does. Take a look back with this runway retrospective of Gurung's colorful career.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014
IMAXTREE

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014

Prabal played with layers, textures, and this ultra-saturated crimson shade.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014
IMAXTREE

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014

Unexpected flashes of fur embellished leggy, draped chiffon skirts.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014
IMAXTREE

Prabal Gurung Fall 2014

Joan Smalls closed the show in this elegant, hand-draped midnight gown.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014

Lovely lavender made for a striking design (as well as lipstick).

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014
Getty | Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014

The second we saw this dress, we knew it'd emerge on the red carpet, and Hailee Steinfeld proved us right!

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014
Getty | Peter Michael Dills

Prabal Gurung Spring 2014

Gurung romanced us with roses — rosettes, to be more specific.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013
Getty | Brian Ach

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013

Prabal showed the power of sexy with this dramatic peekaboo number.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013
Getty | Brian Ach

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013

Cutouts and asymmetric draping marked this collection.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013
Getty | Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013

Prabal's army marched down the runway in strong embroidered numbers.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013
Getty | Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2013

Nobody does a good belt like Prabal! This draped and printed design was the label through and through.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013

Can suiting be romantic? With layers of sheer white fabric, Prabal said "yes!"

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013

The prints were back and stronger than ever when worn head to toe.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013

Among his more romantic designs, Prabal's tiered gray gown was an instant favorite (Diane Kruger seemingly agreed when she wore it to a Quentin Tarantino benefit at MoMA).

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013
Getty | Brian Ach

Prabal Gurung Spring 2013

Red (and plenty of it) was the star of the Spring 2013 collection.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012

This gold petal and ostrich design balanced the collection's darker moments.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012

Metallic panels gave these jackets a surprising oil-slicked effect.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012

Does this gown look familiar? Prabal muse Zoe Saldana made the style her own at the 2012 CFDA Awards.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012
Getty | Andy Kropa

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012

You can't say these models didn't vamp it up on the runway — smoky eyes and illusion panels were the definition of "sultry."

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

This babydoll number was anything but demure thanks to lacing, a plunging neckline, and those ultrasexy shoes.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

This sexy shape came in white, black, and prints, naturally.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

You weren't looking at Prabal's Spring 2012 runway if you didn't see purple — the color was everywhere, in prints, solids, iridescence, and sheer.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011

This runway standout had it all: a great print, leather accents, and a sexy silhouette.

Prabal Gurung  Fall 2011
Getty | Stefan Gosatti

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011

Leather for night? Prabal went there!

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011
Getty | Stefan Gosatti

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011

Knee-high leather boots and oil-slicked waves captured the dramatic tone of the crimson runway.

Prabal Gurung  Fall 2011
Getty | Stefan Gosatti

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011

Pink and red became the palette of the season, much in part due to Prabal (and Sarah Jessica Parker, who sported this red carpet design).

Prabal Gurung  Spring 2011
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011

In a season of colorblocking, Prabal stood out with an unexpected palette.

Prabal Gurung  Spring 2011
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011

Slashes of blue hinted to Prabal's soon-to-be-debuted trademark prints.

Prabal Gurung  Spring 2011
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011

There's no Prabal show without a breathtaking gown. Here, sexy underwires were paired with the collection's standout hue: marigold.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010

The Prabal Gurung woman was encompassed in this strong and chic design.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010

The show's iridescent palette popped up as accents and head to toe as in the case of this deep green gown.

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010
Getty | Karl Prouse/Catwalking

Prabal Gurung Fall 2010

Airy, feathered numbers, like this plumed cocktail dress, would soon become a signature.