Prabal Gurung

Maybe it was the models' purply-blue eyeshadow, the iridescent sleeves on the structured coats, the black carpeting on the runway, or the really cool black cape that opened the show, but the Prabal Gurung woman felt mysterious — or downright otherworldly — for Fall 2012. Gurung's carefully sculpted aesthetic was still completely feminine, thanks to ruffled tops, feathers, and beading, but there was a definite futuristic element thanks to digital prints and a series of gold lamé pieces with strong geometric shapes. As for the woman of mystery, sometimes the models were in sunglasses, other times in tall black hats, as if they were changing personas with each look. If the show started in dark, it ended incredibly light, with a series of ethereal white gowns that seemed to float down the runway, and likely right onto a red carpet sometime in the near future.

• Trends: Cutouts, feathers, futurism, minimalism, capes, balloon sleeves.
• Colors: Black, gold, white, cobalt, digitized prints.
• Key Piece: Joan Smalls in a beaded, semi-sheer black gown was pretty gorgeous.
• Accessories: Triple-strap black heels, gold power belts, black police hats.
• Who Would Wear It: Someone who wants to make a dramatic statement. We can see Diane Kruger in the gold dresses, Jennifer Aniston in the short black dresses, and Emma Stone in the blue print dresses.

>>"We all have the dark and the light side, but for the longest time I've only put my happy self out there," Prabal Gurung said. And so, for Fall 2012, Gurung finally let both sides out — plus a little bit of everything in between. The collection started with a series of all-black looks — undulating capes, flared trousers, coats piled high in fur — segued into a group of blues and mirror-prints, and finished in a flurry of frothy white and metallic. Along the way there were some lovely forays into embellishment: gowns in intricately beaded lace, skirts punctuated with ostrich-feather fringe, and crystal-encrusted frocks. It was a lot to take in, but Gurung is nothing if not ambitious. "I am a little more confident in my own skin," he explained.

Kate Winslet joined the many famous faces at NY Fashion Week as she stepped out in the Big Apple last night. She attended the opening of CFDA's new exhibition at FIT called "Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA." Kate, who is the current face of St. John, wore a fitted black dress from the line and was accompanied by St. John designer George Sharp and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb for the occasion. Also on hand to see the work on display were Prabal Gurung, Vera Wang, Lorraine Schwartz, and Anna Wintour.

Kate's coming off an exciting award season win last month. Kate picked up a Golden Globe for her work in Mildred Pierce and was joined by boyfriend Ned Rocknroll at the big show.

>> Pre-Fall 2012 has Prabal Gurung forgoing his signature glitz and instead opting for something else: everyday wearability. His reference point — the rough-and-tumble grittiness of life in India — is apparent not so much in the elegantly crafted separates on offer, but more in the spirit of powerful fluidity that surrounds them. "It can be harsh, really, but it's still beautiful," the designer explained.

In keeping with recent tradition, Gurung's also released a video to accompany the collection. This season's offering: a hypnotic, kaleidoscopic rendering, set to the tune of DJ Pictureplane's song "Body Mod" and featuring models Alana Zimmer, Hanne Gaby, Kate King, and Ming Xie.