Riccardo Tisci showed a fearless Fall '11 collection today for Givenchy filled with growling panthers — both on-stage, via a menacing music soundtrack, and on the clothes — purple orchids, feline ear-tipped bowler hats, cat-eye glasses, and vampy satin pumps complete with thin bangle-like staps. The perfect juxtaposition between hard and soft, was also portrayed in Tisci's silhouettes. Lady-like pencil skirts were paired with Tisci's take on casualwear via satin sweatshirts, decorated with panthers and orchids, and cropped bomber jackets. Sheer elements also played a big role in Tisci's story, which were layered with structured ruffle miniskirts and even cut into a sleek button-up blouse adorned with black vinyl trim. Strong and menacing — just the way we like it.

• Trends: Chic casual wear, sheer, pencil skirts.
• Colors: Black, purple, green, yellow.
• Key Looks: Satin sweatshirts paired with pencil skirts, layered leather and sheer skirt.
• Accessories: Satin pumps, ear-tipped bowler hats, small clutches, cat-eye glasses.
• Who Would Wear It: Edgy experimental types, like Florence Welch or Vanessa Traina.

It's the kind of fun we'd expect Gaultier to have with his collection. This time a playful rendition of '50s and '60s fashion that had models tossing their their layers to the end of the catwalk, then closing with a striptease from French commedienne Valerie Lemercier. It's a presentation that's all tongue and cheek, models with graying bouffants taking the runway in belted tweed, jacquard, gloves and kitten heels. But, don't let the references to retro dressing fool you, this collection is just as full of the more modern, covetable plays on ladylike apparel. Fall trends in the form of leather pencil skirts, fur-trimmed puffers, a sleek trench coat, and slick suiting that celebrate sophisticated, wearable luxe.

• Trends: Ladylike dressing, fur, leather, graphic print, menswear.
• Colors: Earth tones, gray, black, a splash of citrus and green.
• Key Looks: A belted, fur-trimmed puffer coat and kitten heels.
• Accessories: Fur stoles, gloves, t-strap pumps, lace-up boots, pointed-toe kitten heels, and fur-trimmed suitcases.
• Who Would Wear It: The feminine sophisticate who craves luxury with modern sensibility.

Viktor & Rolf runways are never short on spectacular, delivering models attached to light apparatuses one year, Harlequin romance the next. But this year, Fall '11 is a battlefield for the design duo, who delivered a collection of red-faced warriors, outfitted in fierce metallics and bold volume. Clothing that's reminiscent of armor with stiff pleats, bold shoulders, and a sharp black, red, white, and silver palette that reads like a coat of arms. It's part medieval, then totally modern in volume and proportion, begging for fearless fashion fans like Gaga to try it on.

A big willow tree stood at the beginning of the Lanvin runway, a sign that Alber Elbaz was all about roots. When it comes to Lanvin that means sharp tailoring and clothes that celebrate a woman's love for femininity and fun. Elbaz delivered both in a show that began soberly and ended on a ripe, color-filled note. First, the tailoring. Models emerged in carefully oversized, boxy wool coats and capes, and wide-brimmed pilgrims' hats with menswear loafers and prim bags. Then the silhouette softened, into graceful silk one-shoulder dresses and gowns. Elbaz played with silhouettes, moving from boxy minimalism to figure-hugging curves, sometimes combining them, and releasing looks with volume and structure. Finally, it became party time, and we got a fruity roll of classic Lanvin dresses in yellow, pink, red, burgundy, with that precise drape that makes Elbaz's designs so covetable.

• Trends: Draping, minimalism, boxy silhouettes, '70s.
• Colors: Yellow, black, navy, red, fuchsia, burgundy, peach, mauve, tan.
• Key Looks: The bright and fruity cocktail dresses at the end. .
• Accessories: Amazing deco statement necklaces, pilgrim hats, loafers.
• Who Would Wear It: Ultra chic girls who love to indulge their flirty side at night.

Phoebe Philo put Celine back on the map with her laid-back approach to minimalism; for Fall she continued that idea but took fabrics — fur, leather, sheer chiffon — and worked them like building blocks to create a textured minimalism that balanced simplicity with super sharp tailoring, rich colors and fabrics. The silhouettes were easy to wear, like skinny trousers and chic menswear coats, and the turtleneck layered under boxy tops is proof that next Fall, the t-neck is going to be a wardrobe staple. What was most impressive is that luxurious fabrics like fur and leather, a sign of excess most anywhere else, had such elegant subtlety here— Philo was fearless in slimming them down and tailoring them until they became as svelte as the models wearing them. The result was a smart, chic collection that felt luxurious, looked luxurious, but didn't have to scream it.

• Trends: Minimalism, colorblocking, leather, fur, menswear.
• Colors: Earth tones, navy, citrus, red.
• Key Looks: The fur and wool coats.
• Accessories: Pointy stiletto booties
• Who Would Wear It: The fashion forward modernist.

Source: Catwalking

Each season, we look forward to Isabel Marant's effortless Parisian-chic, and for Fall '11, she shook things up with an overwhelmingly Navajo-inspired collection. Marant offered slouchy, feather-printed tees, superskinny white jeans, and blankety wool jackets — giving us a cozy, sexy, laid-back aesthetic for Fall. The rocker vibe wasn't lost on us either — the knee-high fringe boots and Winter-white Mongolian fur jacket are reminiscent of 70's-era Marianne Faithfull, and Marant's notorious artful layering makes this collection a truly fabulous mix of classic cool.

Your looks this week were the epitome of transitional dressing — you're still holding on tight to Fall's leopard trend, while bringing in bright pops of color à la the Spring '11 runways. My favorite colorful looks this week were color me mine, walking tall, under the umbrella, jazz and chills, American girl, eye of the tiger, still leopard lovin', sheer genius, mermaids and other bathing beauties, and mustard. Congrats, all!