karen walker

>> Karen Walker's particular breed of Aussie quirk gets a kick of Victorian romance for Fall 2012. High-neck blouses, nipped-waist dresses, and ornate brocades all got play, as did Belle Epoque skirts and ruffle-cuffed sleeves. But don't go thinking Walker's changed her offbeat ways. There was also a hefty dose of '60s pop and even a little Captain Nemo worked into the fray. The former was found in oversized paisleys and super-vivid hues, the latter in Naval coats and Winklepicker shoes. Classic Karen Walker — through and through.

>>This Spring, Karen Walker brings her particular breed of New Zealand girlie-quirk to the American mass market by storm. As announced via the brand's Twitter and Facebook earlier today, the designer has inked a deal with Anthropologie that puts her lower-priced Hi There From Karen Walker line of "cute dresses, fun prints, and strong colors" exclusively at 164 Anthropologie stores, starting March 2012. "It's completely different to everything else we've been doing," Walker told The New Zealand Herald. "We've been in the luxury market for 14 years, but this reaches a wider audience . . . [it's] a totally different price point, a totally different product and it's really our first time in the States going en masse." Click through to see the entire Hi There From Karen Walker collection, with more details coming soon.

No girl can resist Karen Walker's cool-girl style, and, as expected, the designer gave us more to look forward to with her Spring 2012 collection. Her "American Girl" theme, inspired by the classic flick Taxi Driver, showed gorgeous prints and soft tailoring. Described as "equal parts Betsey and Iris," the collection highlighted a mix of painterly florals, check, and polka-dot prints. Silhouettes were soft and louche as models — accessorized with the cutest printed turbans, sunglasses, patent loafers, and baseball caps — walked down the runway in a range of silk and crepe de Chine peplum blouses, strapless jumpers, shirt dresses, and pajama trousers. In a perfect world, we'd own every piece from the cute-meets-cool collection. Read below for more details.

>> For Spring 2012, Karen Walker riffed on the idea of "The American Girl", citing two polar-opposites in particular:  buttoned-up Betsy and street-wise Iris from the 1976 movie Taxi Driver. And so out came the straight skirts, prim blouses, and secretary dresses for Betsy; jaunty jumpsuits, mixed-up prints, and mini-skirts for Iris. But fans of Walker know the designer doesn't like to play her references too straight, and thus these '70s girls got a bit of a 1940s twist — pants were cropped and pleated, blazers were shoulder-padded and twee, and peplums flared over many a hip.

>> Karen Walker's shades have earned themselves a cult following; here's a peek at the latest must-haves, from Walker's Resort 2012 collection. The fluoro bright frames hold contrasting lens and feature arrow motifs; for the classicist, meanwhile, there's a simple set of retro '30s-inspired frames. The whole collection, in the slideshow, is now available for pre-order on Moda Operandi.

Sometimes a classic pair of sunglasses just won't do — you want to feel bold and show more personality than the standard wayfarer or aviator will allow. If you're feeling the pull toward a cheekier pair of specs, look no further than our 10 perfect picks. From Prada to Topshop, we've rounded up some of the best in cutting-edge eyewear — so click through to see and shop our top picks for bright, bold Summer sunnies.

There are two things that become even more important once Spring rolls around: accessorizing and sun protection. Lucky for you, Fab fashionistas, we've got you covered in both areas — we've rounded up a variety of Spring-ready hats and sunnies that will blend seamlessly into your current wardrobe and keep you safe and chic. Click through to see all 20 Fab-approved toppers and sunglasses, and shop your favorites!

For Fall 2011, Karen Walker took us to a '70s-era working-class disco hall in northern England called the Wigan Casino, an escape where the working class would trade uniforms for dancing clothes. Her collection reflected just that juxtaposition of joy and drudgery, although one wouldn't complain about wearing her sharply cut workwear-inspired docker's coat. The romantic, albeit rough 'n' tumble storyline unfolded in gauzy calf-skimming skirts worn with white tees and leather brogues, and tissue-thin racerback tanks paired with wide-leg wool trousers. The models wore ribbed knit skull caps, a reference to those 9-5 jobs, and the lace-up platforms and sporty leather brogues were the result of a collaboration with Beau Coops. The collection was filled with wardrobe staples you'll want for Fall: slouchy trousers, crisp jackets, flowy skirts, floral prints — particularly a gauzy blouse with silk chiffon detail, and those super cute brogues. Leave it to Karen Walker to find beauty in working-class toil.

• Trends: Workwear, vinyl, femme rebel, menswear, longer hemlines, wide-leg trousers, florals.
• Colors: Mustard yellow, orange, gray, navy, cream, black.
• Key Looks: Any of the florals and the calf-length skirts.
• Accessories: Patent and leather lace-up platform booties, a collaboration with Beau Coops; her cool sunglasses.
• Who Would Wear It: Her loyal Japanese fan base; girls who want crisp and sporty with an offbeat touch.