Prabal Gurung Just Nailed the Sporty Vibe (and There Wasn't a Sneaker in Sight!)

With athleticism becoming a major touch point with today's designers, it was no surprise that Prabal Gurung made American sportswear the focus of his Spring 2015 collection. But that he'd juxtapose those strong silhouettes against such soft fabrications — inspired by traditional Nepalese dressing — was a delightful spin. He managed to cover all the bases, from cloque jacquard and bleached denim to flitty feathers and three-dimensional rhododendron blooms. Sure, he had beautiful ruffled dresses, but one of the buzziest looks — a colorblock pantsuit with unstructured, contrasting lapels — felt more androgynous.

Overall, though, what really stood out were the basics: fans may have discovered their new favorite neckline, a Y-shaped, shoulder-baring tank. And showgoers surely appreciated that, despite going so sporty, he didn't take the obvious route (you know, jumping onto the designer sneakers bandwagon). Instead, he used the opportunity to debut his first-ever footwear line of multistrapped sandals and classic booties. A pleasant surprise, indeed.