S: Is for more of the same!

Upon the heels of Temperley London, Anna Sui's imagination and eclectic inspiration captured Fashion Week. Galvanizing the pre-Raphaelites, Art Nouveau, Tiffany lamps, Fortuny, and the American Indian this collection wowed. Fringing, beading, embroidery, patchwork, ruching, draping, ribbons, bows, metallic threads – no detail has been left out, and that was just the tights and boots! The clothes are glorious. Smock dresses over frilly skirts, crystal-encrusted tunics with baggy trousers tucked into boots, long, curvy dresses in floral velvet, handkerchief-hems on trapeze-line smocks, oversized knitted coats in arty blocks of red, blue yellow and black, gold-embroidered aprons tied over hippie dresses, sequined, embossed and cut-out leather jackets with washed georgette dresses, Mongolian lamb vests and cloaks with velvet gowns….all styled, layered and accessorized with madcap, magpie charm and enthusiasm. There were minidresses and maxi dresses, and velvet shorts worn with tights. Psychedelic iridescent striped chiffon dress worn with a hip-granny sweater vest on top and a caftan with a butterfly print. Lit by bright purple, and certainly captured the late 1960s-early '70s vibe that's been on other runways. We are headed back to the 60's and it is a glorious trip!

Brazilian designer Carlos Miele's clothes are luxe, elegant and sophisticated. Oversized cable knits, in cream and scarlet, worked asymmetrically across the body and with huge roll-collarsand pom-pom trims, came with pencil skirts. Fitted cocktail dresses in red and saffron satin were cut to cling, with fine pleating and stitching achieving a corset-effect and floaty, long gowns in foliage-coloured chiffons featured dainty fingertip pleating. Red carpet gowns included a white, full-skirted style with intricate black beding forming the single strap and extending down the bodice and a beautiful champagne ballgown in tulle with a gold-beaded front-panel. With traditional winter-wear comes fur, and Miele provided more than enough. Mink, fox, and rabbit fur adorned vests, boleros, and coats, while black ostrich leather showed up in almost every accessory. Architectural details like dresses with hidden pockets and coats with pleated silk cuffs were evidence of Miele’s inspiration, while wide black belts cinching the waists of coats and pencil skirts imparted an urban feel. Geometric-printed, jewel-toned silk chiffon numbers were followed by more elaborate dresses with embroidered lace and pleated satin bodices or frothing skirts fashioned from metallic crushed silk. If I were going to any award show this is the designer to make you look breathless.

Last but not least the shows of the winning Project Runway contestants went off. All I know is that Victoria Beckham is a judge, which makes no sense considering she has the tackiest taste in fashion. Will it be Christian, Sweet P, or Rami? Sometimes social consciousness is based on how we look and feel. It allows us to express who we are and that is always an interesting F.A.C.T.