Blonde Fashionista's blog

The shiny warrior princesses Max Azria offered up for Spring have found a slightly softer side in Pre-Fall 2012. Sure, they're still marching about in gladiator shoes, leather harnesses, and bandage dresses, but this time around the shoes are high-heeled, the harnesses are whip-thin, and the dresses are vivid in jewel tones, stripes, and sunset ombres. Though silhouettes remain just as body-con as ever, there are also a few surprises to be had: flippy skirts that flare at the hip, smooth-shouldered jackets, and a skintight dress with an airy, drapey train.

“Short for dancing, long for red carpet. This is how we do it!” declared Roberto Cavalli. He was holding up two versions of the same emerald-green print dress, considering who might be going out in one or the other of them. “Jennifer Lopez!” he growled. “She likes this sort of thing.” Call it pragmatic decadence or sensible opulence—regardless, Roberto and his wife Eva Cavalli have a perfectly informed idea of who they’re designing for and where their looks are destined to be flaunted. The couple was in Paris, presenting pre-fall above the Cavalli store in the rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, in a setting which suddenly seemed like a nightclub in the seventies: couches and tables with bowls of fruit, crystal-and-gold goblets on the go, and a giant German shepherd snoozing on the floor. Of course! These are fun-loving Florentines holding up Italy’s reputation for sexy excess. Come on—somebody has to do it. We’re not talking blatant Berlusconi-era bunga-bunga sexy, though. Instead ...

Reem Acra has been banking on her ornate bridal and evening gowns for some time now, but for pre-fall, the designer isn't limiting herself to the sequin-heavy looks for which she's known.  While there were plenty of those signature paillettes in her new collection, Acra also experimented with sportswear separates like day-to-night tailored jackets and pencil skirts, and integrated leather into her lineup for the second season in a row.  The leather dresses here were a refreshing departure, especially a cobalt blue version with laser-cut flowers. In the end, though, the best look was classic Acra: a relatively simple, lipstick red gown with delicate Chantilly lace insets that should appeal to her red-carpet and gala-going clientele.