Cushnie et Ochs

Cushnie et Ochs was all about the femme-fatale factor for Fall 2012 as designers Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs showed a vast array of body-con dresses punctuated with modern details. Inspired by Pedro Almodóvar's The Skin I Live In, the duo put the spotlight on fitted sheaths featuring sexy cutouts. Zippers also played a large role in the story, lined against the length of the body and, while we've yet to predict the Hollywood girl who will dare to wear it, cupped underneath the bust line. If the body-conscious silhouettes seemed overtly sexy, Cushnie and Ochs tempered the sexy theme with loose, yet still seductive, silk draped cutout dresses made in gorgeous cobalt and emerald-green jewel tones.

• Trends: Sporty zipper details and cutouts.
• Colors: Blue, black, ecru, cobalt, silver, emerald green.
• Key Piece: The draped cutout dresses were simultaneously sexy and sleek.
• Accessories: Silver, black, and ecru high-heel pumps.
• Who Would Wear It: Red-carpet cuties like Olivia Wilde and Reese Witherspoon.

>> How many sharp little dresses can one collection have? If you ask Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, the answer is dozens. The duo have made a name for themselves doing their version of the sexy modern dress, often working in references that teeter toward subversive. This season, the subversive reference at play was Pedro Almodóvar's recent film The Skin I Live In, which manifested itself in precise cutouts, sculptural flaps, zipped-up layers, and undulating drapes — all meant to invoke the skill of a sociopathic plastic surgeon. But it wasn't all so twisted: there were also trim pantsuits (albeit with a nice helping of sheer) and a few softly tailored sheaths to provide relief.

Sure, there are biggies like Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, and Proenza Schouler — but this Fashion Week, we're equally excited to see what our new favorite up-and-comers are bringing to the table. From Misha Nonoo's laid-back luxe to the all-out sex-kitten silhouettes at Cushnie et Ochs, we're looking forward to lots of freshness in the coming weeks. Click through now to see five burgeoning designers that we're super excited about this season, and why we're so smitten.

>> Slits, cut-outs, and head-to-toe print looks — courtesy of the Resort collections — all got major play this week. See who went there — and who got two nods apiece — in the slideshow.

>> They're making their lists — and checking them twice. Here come the holidays, and who better to spread the cheer than some of our favorite fashionable insiders? From the super-luxe accessories topping Melissa Coker's and Leandra Medine's lists to the souped-up sporting goods desired by Yigal Azrouel and Peter Som, here's a look at what those in the know are coveting this season. See who's hoping for Burberry, who's hoping for Hermes, and who's just hoping for some sleep — plus, glean gift-giving ideas from Anna Sheffield, Lauren Bush Lauren, Derek Lam, Stephanie LaCava, and more — all here, in the slideshow.

>> The Spring 2012 season is just getting started, and we've been backstage from the get-go, capturing the behind-the-scenes comings-and-goings. See Ruby Aldridge being attended to by small horde of dressers at Jason Wu, Constance Jablonski vamping it up in her white Cushnie et Ochs dress, the reunion of "Jourlie" — Jourdan Dunn and Karlie Kloss — and a slew of other backstage shenanigans in the slideshow.

Photos: Greg Kessler

>> Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs took a little journey to the softer side for Spring 2012. Sure, there were the body-con silhouettes and masterful tailoring we've come to expect from the line, but this time around there was a certain lushness on display as well. Circle skirts flounced beneath sharp-cut blazers, cowl-folds draped liquid-like on sheath dresses, and a delicate eyelet fabric made an appearance on several blouses and skirts. There was color on offer as well, in the form of lemony yellow and candy pink. If all this sounds a bit too girly for Cushnie et Ochs, never fear. The collection had plenty of plunging necklines, geometric piecing, and sexy leather to temper all the sweetness.