BABY’S GOT BACK!

MAKE AN EXIT, DARLINGS!If you have lovely skin or are especially proud of your spray-on tan, this is the season for you! Backs are the new cleavage!The number of backless dresses and tops out there is astounding, and I have selected the best of the rear-views for your shopping pleasure! First, I have said it before and I’ll reiterate: T-Bags dresses are the most comfy things on the planet, and incredibly chic at the same time. Their backless frocks and tunics are delish, so get some now! In fact, this lovely little patterned party frock (at right) is currently 70% off at shopbop.com! The Elizabeth and James dress pictures at the top left of this...

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RED HOT!

Our team is R-E-D red H-O-T hot, you can't beat the stuff we got, HEY HEY!!!Sorry, couldn't help myself with the high school cheer. In addition to the bevy of flourescent brights out there this season, we are also faced with some seriously steamy SCARLET styles.First, check out Benjamin Cho's daring "torn" shift dress (top right) in a vibrant, shiny Alexander Calder red with a decorative cut-out flower and exposed sequin underlay. Genius!Maria Menounos wore a delicious Marchesa dress at the Heart Truth show recently. All the gowns were red and the proceeds went to a great cause (finding a cure for breast cancer), but this frock was a real standout....

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MISPLACED MODIFIERS & DECONSTRUCTION

Whoever said there is nothing new under the sun was clearly standing in the shade!Though it's difficult to shock the fashion conscience these days, designers are coming up with new and interesting ways to reinvent established trends. This CoutureCarrie post focuses on accessories re-employed and outfits de-constructed.Always the most outré, and never to be outdone, Comme de Garçons reimagined the skirt to interesting and fanciful effect. First, he took a trench and lopped it off to create a calf-grazing belted number (top right). Then, even more alarmingly, he made a half-and-half skirt (left), with a subtle grey plaid suiting material on one...

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STAR WARS IN STYLE

GALAXY QUEST Celestial seasonings and supernovas abound this season. Take this flashy JG4B Starlight Bandeau Bikini, available at Net-A-Porter. This new line of swimwear is absolutely out of this world!! Kinda makes me want to wear Milky Way rather than eat it!!Peter Pilotto boldly goes where no designer has gone before with this heavenly body of work (photo at right, courtesy style.com). Both tunic and pants are spattered with stars and constellations. Though a word to the wise: go galaxy on top or bottom, not both! And please don't pair your star-studded outfit with cowboy boots!And then, of course, come the Star-Trek inspired outfits (see...

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SUPERHEROES & SUPERVILLAINS ON THE RUNWAYS

THE ANTI-HERO IN FASHIONWith the Costume Institute’s upcoming, much-touted Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy Show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on my brain, I am pondering the villain as inspiration. It turns out, Batman’s foes abound on the runways! On the left, please find film stills of our villainous DC Comics muses, and on the right, their modern-day couture embodiments. KA-POW!!Two-Face, as played by Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever; it’s not only his face, but his outfit, that’s split down the middle (image courtesy www.images.allmoviephoto.com), much like Limi Feu’s half and half look for Fall 2008 (runway photo via style.com)....

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POSH PICNIC

In the manner of Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Claude Monet, 1865), dine al fresco in style! Gather your friends, some oozy brie, a baguette or two, and a bottle of slightly chilled Pinot Noir . . .The proper attire is essential to the enjoyment of a lovely picnic. I would opt for a comfortable, breathable sundress, preferably knee-length, with a full skirt. Be sure to wear boyshorts underneath so you can toss a Frisbee with your pals without fear of Britney exposure! Of course, you should tuck a cashmere throw into your tote bag, along with a lightweight cardigan. The Pashmina, while no longer an appropriate fashion statement, does provide elegant warmth,...

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CATCH A WAVE!

“It’s your Scuba Suit!” (Rob Lowe to Mare Winningham in the 80s cult classic St. Elmo’s Fire -- and that was long before the invention of the dreaded Spanx - yuck! Don't EVER wear anything that you wouldn't want your lover to see! There are better ways to camouflage figure flaws than with yards of hidden spandex! But I digress. . . )Surfer-inspired duds are awash on the shores of fashion, and we're ready to suit up!Get a load of Roksanda Ilincic’s shiny green and black wetsuit-inspired dress for Fall 2008. Totally rad!At the Miu Miu show for Fall 2008, scuba-like suits and dresses were personalized with the models’ initials! And they were even...

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FLY GIRLS

FASHION IS FOR THE BIRDS!With this season’s focus on bold color and outrageous design, it’s no surprise that designers have us strutting down the catwalk of life in festive plumes. There were several quite literal interpretations on this bird-brained scheme.First, I am particularly proud of Alexander McQueen’s strapless peacock frock (pictured at left, courtesy nymag.com). The full skirt is so decadent and fabulous! Moreover, the corseted waist and bust are expertly emphasized by the symmetry of the two birds, whose beaks touch at center front, creating almost a heart in the negative space where cleavage commonly appears.Also appreciated the...

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APT PUPA

FLAP YOUR WINGS!Butterflies abound this spring, on everything from dresses to handbags. But I think they found their most delightful expression in the season's jewels.At the Valentino Spring 2008 Couture show, the clutches were snapped shut with winged, jeweled clasps (image courtesy style.com - check out the site for more incredible detail photos from the couture collections!).What's great about this interpretation of the trend is that there are boundless affordable options. Kenneth Jay Lane’s ring and Tasha’s bangles are both under $100 each (for purchase at shopbop.com and Nordstrom, respectively). Even Barneys got in on the butterfly iconography,...

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