Fall 2012 New York Fashion Week

We can always count on Oscar de la Renta for red-carpet perfect dresses and the most elevated execution of ladylike wares, and this season was no exception to the rule. Marked by a definitive nod to the refined woman, Oscar upped his fantasy fashion quotient with a collection positively dripping in jewels. Teardrop-shaped pearl earrings, antique-inspired brooches, embellished sheaths, satin-and-diamante headbands, and even jewel-print graphics popped up on the runway. In addition to the dazzle factor, the designer honed in on updating his classic tweed jackets, perfectly tailored circle skirts, and "ladies who lunch" suits for both the younger, daring crew and the more sophisticated set. He adorned dresses with long pastel-hued feathers, added long, chunky cable-knit cardigans for a casual feel, and polished off looks with bejeweled leather belts. And as any fairy-tale show must end, Oscar delivered stunning, princess-worthy, or in this case — Academy Awards-worthy — ball gowns. These frothy, ethereal creations boasted full skirts, slightly drawn up in front like theater curtains, and off-the-shoulder necklines, and of course, they have "A-list" written all over them. See below for more Oscar de la Renta details.

• Trends: Jewel embellishments, brooches, refined suits, and fairy-tale gowns.
• Colors: Soft pink, powder blue, red, and black.
• Key Piece: The voluminous jaw-dropping ball gowns in both slate blue and muted pink — chances are, we'll be seeing these confections on the red carpet very soon.
• Accessories: Teardrop-shaped pearl earrings, antique-inspired brooches, fishnet stockings, velvet bow tie shoes, and satin-and-diamante headbands.
• Who Would Wear It: Oscar de la Renta's arsenal of loyal fans, like Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Chastain, and Anna Wintour.

Honing in on a cool-girl craftiness (and her own signature style), Whitney Port sent fuzzy sweaters, mixed prints, and pretty florals down the runway this morning for her Fall Whitney Eve collection. Front-row celebs Nigel Barker, Tyson Beckford, and Coco Rocha nodded along as models hit the catwalk and Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)" blared in Lincoln's Studio. The soundtrack may have been just a bit over-the-top — flirty floral dresses and peplum don't exactly scream tough-girl — but chain-adorned velvet trousers and burnout velvet pants may speak more to that edginess. As a whole, though, the collection feels decidedly breezy and feminine, albeit with that same quirkiness — read: mixed prints, playful cropped proportions, bold hues, and a splash of sequins — that defines Whitney's own LA style.

• Trends: Velvet, mixed prints, textured knits, florals, crop tops, peplum.
• Colors: Orange, black, navy, nude.
• Key Piece: The cropped printed knit mixed with the printed miniskirt.
• Accessories: Angular, geometric necklaces; metallic ankle-strap platforms and socks.
• Who Would Wear It: Quirky-cool 20-somethings like Whitney herself.

Prabal Gurung took the designing reins for International Concept Brand (ICB) this season, and we got to soak up the colorful benefits by way of the designer's digital fashion show presentation. The verdict? It's a cool blend of bold kaleidoscope-print dresses, tough-girl moto jackets, tuxedo-style blazers, ombré lace shirtdresses, and ultra-cool accessories. Translation: we want it all. Prabal's ICB girl is "witty and intelligent with an astute sense of the world"; this design ethos came through in gorgeous fluid fabrics, an overt juxtaposition of hard and soft styling, and, most of all, its affordable luxury appeal. "I didn't want to compromise on the quality, I want someone to look at this collection and feel really great. She [the ICB by Prabal Gurung girl] has innate good taste and this is a stepping stone to what I have to offer in my main collection," the designer said. The accessibility paired with impeccable tailoring, bright palette, and downtown-chic vibe make for a totally wearable lineup of looks, perfect for Fall '12 and beyond.

• Trends: Kaleidoscope-print silk dresses, tuxedo-style blazers, bold hues, and oversized capes.
• Colors: Colorful mixes of fuchsia, green, yellow, black, and red; ombré gradations.
• Key Piece: The juxtaposition of hard and soft across the board, but we can't get enough of the graphic-print dresses paired with tougher moto jackets.
• Accessories: Bright saddle bags, moto-inspired boots, and leather gloves.
• Who Would Wear It: Cool girls who prefer edgy accents à la Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, and Rooney Mara.

Narciso Rodriguez stuck with his signature structured silhouettes for Fall '12, and this time, he built out the form-fitted figure into silky crepe dresses, colorblocked in geometric patterns of rusted brick reds, tangerine oranges, and chartreuse greens. In addition to the more "billowy" looks, he also sent out bustier-inspired, nipped-waist versions that accentuated the body in artfully draped folds of fabric. For a mix of sophisticated sheaths and polished daytime looks, Narciso included tailored trousers, luxe leather gloves, graphic-print tops, and a handful of covetable oversized trapeze and bell-shaped wool and felt coats. As for accessories, the designer impressed with his first-ever line of shoes and handbags — we were especially taken with the two-tone pointy-toe boots making turns on the catwalk. In a nutshell? The clean, chic designs juxtaposed against rich Fall colors let Narciso's impeccable cuts and shapes shine through; for more details, read below.

• Trends: Silky structured dresses, long bias-cut dress trains, and oversized trapeze and bell-shaped coats.
• Colors: Chartreuse, chocolate brown, rusted brick, tangerine, black, and russet orange.
• Key Piece: Super-structured, form-fitting sheaths; the tangerine-hued silk crepe dress with a bias-cut train.
• Accessories: Pointy-toe boots and heels in two-tone palettes, ultra-textured handbags, leather gloves.
• Who Would Wear It: The modern, sophisticated girl with a flare for daring cuts, like front-row attendee Claire Danes, Rachel Weisz, and Zoe Saldana.

>> "I used a lot of colors you would not associate with Winter colors, but today's woman doesn't dress for seasons," Oscar de la Renta explained of the icy blues and pale pinks that populated his Fall 2012 collection. On full-skirted ballerina dresses, bouclé coats, and voluminous ball gowns, the pastel hues were everywhere — and a welcome reprieve from the plethora of "oxblood" on offer nearly everywhere else this week.

Other than pastels, de la Renta's main focus this season was embellishment — and it came in every shape, style, and form. Glittering stones were worked onto the sleeves of cashmere cardigans, fox fur dripped from the hems of pants, and shimmering lace adorned collars. Even the models' headbands, belts, and shoes were done up in an eye-popping assortment of jewels.

>> Wallpaper patterns and a vibrant palette of red, fuchsia, and burgundy defined Sophie Theallet's Fall 2012 collection. Swiss dot wrap dresses and silk-charmeuse blouses felt superfemme, and floor-grazing gowns offered just a hint of vintage glamour.

With the Oscars at the end of the month, Naeem Khan's gorgeously crafted red-carpet wear couldn't have come at a better time. Head-to-toe sparkle, full-length prints, embellished pants — Khan's wildly beautiful Fall '12 confections are begging to be worn right now. Beginning with an essentially ethnic-inspired feel, Khan sent ornately crafted tunic-style dresses and gowns down the runway that spoke decidedly to his native India. But, cinched at the waist with lovely black bows, these tunics are both somewhat exotic and at the same time steeped in classic red-carpet glamour. It's that wow factor that registers, the luxuriousness of it all, the decadence that unfolds in all-over sparkle, fringe trim, and jaw-dropping silhouettes. Showstoppers are Khan's bread and butter — in fact, it was hard not to audibly ohh and ahh with nearly every ensemble's turn down the runway. That's not to say you tire of the effect — you're captivated. It's not just the exotic detail, the texture, or the shine, it's how Khan masters the cut. Necklines and slits are sexy but never reveal too much; fringe and beading are used abundantly, but it never feels over-the-top. It's how Khan's mastered the art of razzle-dazzle with perfect allure.

• Trends: Textured, embellished eveningwear; ethnic-feeling robe- and tunic-style gowns; dramatic black and white prints.
• Colors: Black, white, silver, gold.
• Key Piece: The gold full-length v-neck gown is begging for a red-carpet appearance.
• Accessories: Open-toe cutout ankle boots, peep-toe pumps, ankle-strap heels.
• Who Would Wear It: Hollywood A-listers and Oscar contenders like front-rower Ahna O'Reilly; beauties like Zoe Saldana and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley would carry off these gowns flawlessly.

>> After last night's thought-provoking, Dickensian foray, it's only fair that today Marc Jacobs would give us something a bit more straightforward for his secondary line.

And he did. For Fall 2012, the designer focused on two of his more classic references — grunge and military — and worked them into laid-back schoolgirl silhouettes. Pleated skirts, velvet baby dolls, prim blouses, and jumpsuits were done in checks, plaids, and bronze lamé. For a hint of quirk, there were cat-eyed glasses, combat boots, and drum-major hats to finish each look.

>> For Fall 2012, Tory Burch's polished uptown girl gets a bit undone. The designer was inspired by the idea of a "prim girl who's fallen under the spell of the wrong kind of guy," and so this season's offering is ladylike, slim, and tinged with an undercurrent of illicit appeal.

It was all about baggy cuts and luxe fabrics at Diesel Black Gold's Fall showing today at Pier 57. Designer Sophia Kokosalaki stayed true to the brand's rock 'n' roll aesthetic, showing a range of printed skinnies, oversized cuffed leather pants, and a lot of leopard. Inspired by "vintage B-movies," Kokosalaki took it to the streets with an assortment of paint-splattered pants, low-slung leather wrap skirts, and a heavy helping of leopard prints. Designs for the downtown girl, but there were also a few notable pony hair tops and jackets which added a sleek touch to the collection. The complete breakdown below.

• Trends: Baggy silhouettes, wrap skirts, printed pants.
• Colors: Black, gray, brick red, navy blue.
• Key Piece: We loved the pony-hair tops and leather wrap skirts.
• Accessories: Studded bags, paint-splattered ankle boots, wide belts, chain jewelry.
• Who Would Wear It: In addition to front-row attendees Harley Viera-Newton and Emmy Rossum, we can also see Zoe Kravitz and Jessica Szohr wearing this collection.