Sharon Haver - FocusOnStyle.com fall 2012 posts

Chris Benz Fall 2012 Runway Review

Chris Benz F/W 2012 Runway Review: From New York's unparalleled color fanatic Chris Benz comes a collection fit for a dolly girl with a little Eliza Doolittle thrown in for extra character. Chris Benz' latest outing sees the designer forgoing his dialogue with 70's Americana done up in a myriad of bold hues and vivid prints for something a little more retro, slightly disheveled and wickedly off-kilter for a collection that's certainly not to be confused with any other American designer. Sure, there were vague hints of early Marc Jacobs seen here & there when inspecting proportions, say the shrunken princess coats for one, but as usual, Benz is a designer that doesn't take himself or fashion too seriously and

Yigal Azrouel F/W 2012 Runway Review: From a man who rose to fame designing body-con dresses for the party girl set comes an outing full of right-on, more subtle fashion perfect for the times. Over the past few season's Yigal Azrouel has made a name for himself by loosely interpreting Europe's top trends in a way that speaks to New York Fashion Week's more reality-minded, sportswear oriented DNA and has continued to make them his own by steering clear of being too trend driven. Citing Françoise Hardy as a starting point, he worked his muse's attitude to give today's sartorial cues a compelling depth that made his latest effort stand on its own while dishing up the kind of goods that

Tracy Reese fw 12 Runway Review: Tracy Reese gives us a colorful fall 2012 collection that balances strength with femininity with her use of punchy colors, large tropical prints, sturdy fabrics paired with draped silk, and silhouettes that accentuate the female shape. It's refreshing to see a fall collection that isn't dark and dreary, instead the saturated oranges, purples, aquas and yellows put a sunny spin on the cold months of the season. This line had some of the most wearable, flattering peplum shapes I have seen yet, because they are small and pieced in, more subdued so as to not appear like you have an extra 7lbs on your hips. The cropped peplum blazer and long, slim coats with a seam

Rebecca Taylor fw12 Runway Review: The urban girl with a rocker sensibility will feel right at home with this collection that emphasizes rich tactile fabrications that play off more than black. >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS Rebecca Taylor fw12 Classic silhouettes such as bomber jackets, shirt dresses, moto jackets and even what could be a Saville Road herringbone get a cool and downtown vibe at the hands of Rebecca Taylor. Expertly cut loose layers and the de rigueur peplum, all look fresh and lively, particularly when in a succession of filmy layers mixed with rougher fabrications. SHOP: Rebecca Taylor at Shopbop Rebecca Taylor fw12 The collection is not as much young as for the young at heart who appreciate a mix of

mara hoffman fw12 Runway Review: If you lust for prints with edge, Mara Hoffman stayed true to her roots. Mara Hoffman, known for her uniquely rich prints that always manage to not wear the wearer, kept her fans happy with a foray into deep and rich patterns in her fall / winter 2012 "South American Shaman Cowboys" themed collection. >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS Prints include Tassles, Magic Carpet, Stars, Meteorite, and Kilim with some added layers of intricate beading or leather appliqués. Looking closely, you could see the third eye symbol as a running thread in the collection. >> SHOP: Mara Hoffman at Shopbop There were plenty of long and flowy chiffon silky dresses & tunics worn over pants with breezy cut-out

herve leger fw12 Runway Review: If you want a truly sexy LBD, you have come to the right designer. Sexy. Bondage. Need I say more about the Fall 2012 collection from Herve Leger?! There is not a chance, with all the leather straps, anatomical seaming, and skin-tight dense knits, that a woman can wear one of these slammin' dresses and NOT exude supreme sexiness. No way. This is the most bodycon one can get; besides the perfect fit there are cut-outs, cinched waists, and deep necklines that continue to drive the Herve Leger image of a total babe. The sophistication was amped up by a warm palatte of beiges, chestnut brown, with touches of metallic gold, a punch of red

Charlotte Ronson fw 12 Runway Review: Asymmetrical hems, oversize honeycomb stitches and graphic fair isles are must-haves, along with gotta-get sweaters. The Charlotte Ronson Fall 2012 show had me already yearning for chilly autumn's return when it's yet to be spring! A soft, warm palette painted itself on cozy intarsia and cable sweaters, tightly fit leather, light weight georgette, and thick jacquards. The looks were completed and well-balanced with soft purple eye shadow and pouty geranium lips. Every sweater in this collection is going to be snatched up long before the leaves change color! >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS The asymmetrical hems, oversize honeycomb stitches and graphic fair isles are must-haves! Pairing those with a pleated sheer georgette skirt, or over a

nicholas k fall 2012 Runway Review: Heritage prairie inspiration with a dose of edge-- and some of the best outerwear around. Fall 2013 from Nicholas K. takes you to the wild west prairie days, roughed up with an ample amount of dark edginess to boot, and a dose of old-school 90's heroin chic played up with goth-ish hair dye. Sometimes a bit frightening! But not too terrifying, because the fabrications were flowy, easily draped on the body, and layered under soft furs and supple leathers which lends a needed soft side to the tough appeal of the overall look. A rich palette of black, heather grey, cool sepia tones, and sandy beige fit the mood. >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS The washed

Season after season BCBG stays true to it's many signatures with consistent color blocking and banding, fabric manipulation in the form of pleats and folding, luxe, draped fabrics and an array of neutrals punched up with panels of bright color. And while Fall 2012 didn't steer far from that formula, it still had a delightful freshness about it! >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS The long skirts with sheer pleated panels and horizontal bands of color were major items of the collection. BCBGMaxAzria fw12 The outerwear pieces that mixed leather and pieced in fur are destined to sell out. And I personally would pick up one of the dresses because besides the statement color blocking, they all boasted pockets!! And YOU know

Ann-Sophie Back's latest outing for her secondary, more affordable Back by Ann-Sophie Back line that was recently shown during Stockholm Fashion Week saw the designer jettisoning her more urbane minded monochrome, dark-hued tendencies for something a little lighter. Working with a palette of gray, black & white, she used a shocking electric blue to lift the collection's spirit while adding a vibrant counterpoint to her sporty looks. From romantic off-the-shoulder tops to cut-away jackets to re-worked sweatshirt dressing, there was something for everyone to take away, and from Back, that's an A+ accomplishment as the designer often tends to veer more on the concept heavy rather than the practical. Photos: Back by Ann-Sophie Back

Day two of our Pre-Fall roundup for 2012 has us continuing to scour the best collections out there to help you update your look immediately -why wait? Didn't you love Day 1 of our Best of Pre-Fall styling tips? >>More: Runway Pictures & Shows Balenciaga- Taking his cue from the illustrated works of celebrated fashion artist Antonia Lopez and 80's era French power dressing from the likes of Mugler & Montana, Nicolas Ghesquiere's latest outing didn't abandon his signature takes on 60's sci-fi, cool street wear and Balenciaga-isms -instead, they were super-charged. While the solid pants in off-colors could be the easiest ideas to lift from the outing, there was plenty of new styling tricks to take advantage of this

It's only the last day of January yet we've had a tad too many shows to share with you over the past weeks... we know. And with that in mind we've condensed Pre-Fall 2012 to two posts of inspirational collections. Pre-Fall 2012, yes it's too much! But look at it this way, we are currently phasing through mid-winter so use these collections to your advantage and work new ideas into your current look to stand-out. >>More: Runway Pictures & Shows No 21- Just a few seasons old, we've been fans of Alessandro Dell'Aqua's new signature label No. 21 since it launched as it remains consistently wearable while retaining the kind of nonchalant sex appeal that fashion has embraced since the begining of the last decade.

Dries Van Noten While it’s true that menswear has only so much room to change each season, there was still a refreshing assortment of new ideas for Fall 2012 -here’s a look at some top trends that caught our eye in Paris. >>More Mens: Fashion Reviews & Runway Highlights Turtlenecks- Carven SHOP: MEN'S STYLE GUIDE TO EVERYDAY CHIC While the Carven man has always been a tad on the nerdy side i.e pocket protectors, practical winter-ready turtlenecks made a comeback as an alternative to bulky knits under blazers and shirts alike while framing the face in surprisingly vibrant hues on runways of all kinds. Kenzo Head-to-Toe Color- Raf Simons Color of all sorts has been a big story in womenswear

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Chris Benz Fall 2012 Runway Review

Yigal Azrouel Fall 2012 Runway Review

Tracy Reese Fall 2012 Runway Review & Fashion Show Photos

Rebecca Taylor Fall 2012 Runway Recap

Mara Hoffman Fall 2012 Runway Recap

Herve Leger Fall 2012 Runway Review and Photos

Charlotte Ronson Fall 2012 Runway Review and Photos

Nicholas K Fall 2012 Runway Review & Photos

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2012- Runway Review / Photos

Ann-Sophie Back- Back F/W 2012 in Stockholm

Bonus Styling Tips this Season- The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 2

Bonus Styling Points this Season- The Best of Pre-Fall 2012 Part 1

Top Trends from Paris Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear

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