Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012

Sarah Burton, the creative director behind renowned British brand Alexander McQueen, does not just make clothes. She makes works of art. That's the only way to describe garments this creatively designed and masterfully crafted. Well, I suppose you could call it haute couture, despite this being a ready-to-wear show. But even haute couture doesn't seem a grand enough term.

There's not much to say here. Burton has done it once again. The pressure to top herself and live up to the late McQueen must be tremendous, but she never missteps. Which look is your favorite?

Images via vogue.com

Mary Katrantzou Fall/Winter 2012

My mind is blown. This is the F/W collection I've been waiting to see. I hadn't even heard of Mary Katrantzou, a 28-year-old (!) Greek designer, until these images started floating around after London Fashion Week in February. But it seems she's already taken the fashion world by storm, dressing Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Anna Della Russo, with features in Vogue, W, etc.

The attention is certainly warranted. Look at these prints! Now look again! She's snuck in unicorns, telephones, clocks, typewriters, jewels and bows, layered with psychedelic patterns rich in depth and exploding with color. It takes serious genius to dream this stuff up. Did I mention she's only 28 years old? WHAT THE HELL.

The other incredible thing about this show is that it required almost no styling. So many designers (ahem, Marc Jacobs) rely on kooky styling to make their collections interesting, but Katrantzou's dresses are already wildly interesting in and of themselves. That's rare.

My pal Elizabeth pointed out that Katrantzou just released a diffusion line with Topshop. Of course it's already sold out and selling for hundreds on eBay. Not that I have access to a Topshop anyway, but hey, it's fun to dream.

Images via vogue.com

Favorites from New York Fashion Week Fall 2012, Pt. 2

Derek Lam
I love the feminine colors and floral prints mixed with tough leathers and masculine silhouettes in Derek Lam's new collection. He's one of few designers who can make patent leather look chic (Alexander Wang is another, but I thought his show pushed the envelope all little too far).

Carolina Herrera
I love how artistic and painterly Herrera went with her fall collection, using contemporary yet soft prints. The coat in the second photo almost looks like a Rorschach test. Not a fan of the helmet hair though.

Prabal Gurung
Okay, this might be my all-time favorite collection of the season so far. The blue Prabal uses is absolutely mouth-watering and looks radiant with the reflective satin, a material I normally abhor. Then he works in a bright gold, which contrasts perfectly with the blue (there's a reason so many high schools chose that combo for team colors). I like the sci-fi feel of the whole show too — it's weird in a cool way. The white top in the fourth shot is particularly rad — I love how the floral cluster appears to explode off her torso.

All photos via vogue.com