Grenades in bloom

Tilda Lindstam

Kasia Strauss

Julia Nobis

Nadja Bender

Romee Strijd

Kati Nescher

Frida Gustavsson

Nimue Smit

Jac

Sarah Burton's fall 2012 women were like high fashion super heroes, with sci-fi chrome visors, Batman-like belt buckles to be winged at an enemy or clasped to a zip line, protective capes and fortress-like furs.  I could even imagine some of the closing frocks as like a porcupine's, or some deep sea creature's, defense system -- explode your spikes to deliver the final blow.  Still there was something delicate, beautiful.  That seems to be the sort of McQueen ethos that Burton has carried on so masterfully and effortlessly - the juxtaposition, or perhaps marriage, of fierce strength and exquisite fragility.

An opulent crush

Nadja

Julia F.

Daria

Bette

Zuzanna

Jasmine

Magdalena

Anibela

Olivier

I've decided it would be just about right for me to date Olivier Rousteing, the handsome 26-year old Parisian designer fresh off his second season at the helm of Balmain.  The collection ditched a lot of the obnoxious, Euro-trashy feel of the later Decarnin collections - when cliched torn up t-shirts went for nearly $1,000 - and brought back the sense of chic, over-the-top luxury and fun that re-made the brand at the end of the aughts.   Though this time, there was just a touch of elegance, and that's a difficult balance to strike--in fashion and in a boyfriend.

S/S'12 Favorite: Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

Erin Wasson

Tilda Lindstam

Nyasha

Joan Smalls

Aline

Aside from a series of vaginal garments in the middle of the show, I adored Givenchy's spring collection.  Airy, tough and gorgeous!

Nothing to prove

Sarah Burton, fresh off her global smash success as the Duchess's Designer, created a spring collection for Alexander McQueen that defies description and inspires fantasy - a frothy whirlwind of genius.  I'm speechless!

S/S'12 Favorites: Yves Saint Laurent

I cannot get over YSL!