Chado Ralph Rucci
Chado Ralph Rucci’s pristine and elegant Spring 2012 collection overflowed with white, ivory, champagne, and silver, expertly accented by python, sequins, and feathers. The industry veteran played with plastic this go round, featuring clear plastic fingerless gloves and plastic insets on cuccon coats, quilted mini dresses, and form-skimming shells. Quilted skirt suits and demure wool pants also shared the stage, and harkened back to the designer’s signature aesthetic. After more than 20 years in the business, Rucci knows what women love. Fittingly, his latest collection received a rapturous standing ovation.
Michael Kors admittedly went for Afro-luxe for Spring 2012, mixing animal print with suedes, cashmeres, and cottons in rustic colors. Python print lined floor sweeping maxi dresses as loose jumpsuits played under cross body travel bags. Though browns and mud colors were ubiquitous, not everything had a rugged feel. Kors captured the rich elegance of Africa in lion print trench coats belted at the waist, along with snake print monokinis with leather details. Ladies, if you want to add a punch to your work wear, look no further. A zebra print dress, worn with platform sandals, will easily take you from day to night.
B.Michael America
B Michael focused on gowns for Spring 2012, imagining knee and floor-grazing creations in lime, lemon, blush pink, and ivory. Simple silhouettes and designs came equipped with large bows, which jutted out from the hip or fell gracefully from the neckline. Chunky necklaces brought each look to life, as did select accessories like broad brimmed floppy hats. A floor length strapless swirl print dress mixing blush and ebony will undoubtedly find its way to one of next Spring’s red carpet galas.
Norma Kamali
Norma Kamali stuck to her signature cropped tops and vintage inspired silhouettes for Spring 2012, adding fresh ideas like metallic finishes, fringe, sequins, and on-trend polka dots. Rihanna, Beyonce, and Ciara are all fans of Kamali, and have worn her pieces for everything from stage performances to groundbreaking videos. Rihanna would look sizzling in a turquoise sequined mini dress with side cutouts, Ciara ravishing in a crystal-embellished nude top with asymmetrical feathered skirt, and Beyonce chic in a loose-fit striped gown. There was a little something for every diva.