Spring 11: Carven

You wouldn't know that Carven is actually a revival of a couturier from the last century. The designs look incredibly fresh and modern, with sleek dresses adorned with apocalyptic landscapes reminiscent of Christopher Kane's Resort 10 collection. Cutouts, quickly becoming a phenomenon this season, are also featured on this youthful and totally market-ready collection.

Spring 11: Moschino Cheap and Chic

A bright spot at Milan Fashion week, Moschino Cheap & Chic prints have a child-like exhuberance, with candy colors, large simple geometrics, and lots of mixed prints. The guests enjoyed pizza and prosecco before the show, and during the showing, models were smiling and blowing kisses. This refreshing joyfulness is reflected in the prints, with crafty flowers adorning gingham dresses and folky embroidery evoking simpler times. Howeve loud the prints appliques were, however, the garments were constructed with flow and sophistication, making them very wearable and extremely comfortable-looking on a grown up woman.

Ikat textiles, turbans, boots and jewels are just a few of the things you'll find in the upcoming exhibit on the influential artistic director Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. Opening September 25th at the V & A Museum, this show will be full of fanciful costumes created by the likes of Leon Bakst and Chanel. Known for his collaborations with musicians, designers and artists, Diaghilev combined their talents to form a sensational sensory experience that continues to influence the creative world today.

Spring 11: Cut-Outs

Cynthia Rowley, Marni, Emilio de la Moreno

Cut-outs are all over the runways, from New York to Milan. Here, we see some circular punch-outs revealing interesting textures underneath. We especially love the sharp modernity of Emilio de la Moreno's collection.

Spring 11: Mesh, Lace, and Sheer

Proenza Schouler, Erdem, Thakoon, Jonathan Saunders

Vivienne Tam, Alberta Ferreti, Erdem, Marchesa

Alberta Feretti, Emilio de la Moreno, Louise Gray, Nicole Farhi

Mesh, lace, and sheer fabrics are all over the runways this season. The lace trend shows no signs of tapering off, and we're mostly seeing traditional lace patterns with lots of feminine whites. For a more modern, sportier look, mesh appears on necklines, sleeves and all over garments. Especially beautiful is Thakoon's white mesh and see-through fabrics together. Sheer textiles appear as layers that soften and add dimension to prints behind them, and as scrims that just subtly (and sometimes not so subtley) reveal the skin behind it. The nice thing about all this sheer-ness is how skin is not just covered by the outfit, but becomes part of it.

Spring 11: Erdem

Erdem's calicos and florals were inspired by his visits with Jane Pritchard, the curator of the upcoming Ballet Russe exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The folk patterns gain new life on these finely-tailored dresses, and the layered lace pieces are almost angelic in their loveliness. The pure beauty of Erdem's aesthetic is taken to new levels with this collection, combining old artwork with new silhouette to a state of pure loveliness.

Spring 11: Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou was a print innovator from her first collection just a couple seasons back, but she's really outdone herself this time. In fact, we haven't seen anything this exciting and innovative in a long time. Here, interiors have jumped from background to foreground, landing with precision onto beautifully-tailored dresses, and set off by tromp l'oille details like curtains drawing back, lamphshades as skirts, and wall sconces as necklaces. The effect is opulent and magical, and yet totally elegant and wearable.