How badly do you want to stand out in the crowd? It is important this season to make a personal statement by finding prints that truely express the essence of your personality. Anna Sui is no stranger to making the beautifully bold looks that command attention work by using a subdued color palette and black accents. Her typical rock-n-roll inspiration makes for mandatory additions to your closet to spice things up this Spring '08.-rp

Romance Is Not Dead, It's Fashionable.

I'm finding it very difficult to focus on Spring when the Fall preview is saturated with so many sultry and romantic references. The cascading floral embellishment is a dramatic yet necessary element in achieving this look of ages. No longer are the days of a "missy" cabbage rose isolated to flannel bathrobes draped over gandma's rocking chair. This going to be the cocktail stunner of the season because it is loaded with the things that make for a jaw-dropping entrance, not to mention Giambattista Valli's excellent use of texture & color.

A Gun for Every Woman to Tote

I speak to about 100 designers a week on average & it is the general consensus in the market place, that the idea of a gun is too violent of an image to be used as a conversational element. Here, on a NY consumer, it is garnered in a fun playful manner that is not offensive or threatining in any manner. In fact, it injects some humor into a topic that we take all too seriously in terms of imaging.

After an entire year of the world being skull crazed and being enthrawled by the macabre, what's the next jeopardous look? I think we found it!

Brush Strokes

How can something so simplistic be so coveted? The process of printing on fabric is an exact science & such compositions are almost impossible to render in textiles. A screen has to be created for every color & the pattern has to repeat in a manner that allows every garment to be identical. While we're still waiting for digital printing to ease in to mass production the wholesale value of such items is always going to be in the high stratosphere.

Chloe's paint splatters are an example of this house's sophisticated style techniques and how no expense is spared to garner the mood of the season. I think this will be the most duplicated look in the mass market by far.

Art+Photography+Design=FASHION

New, fresh, and lovely....When you consider the collaborative genius that went in to this particular line, there is no wonder why this was the most talked about show of the season. Marc Jacobs, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince were the forces that shaped this collection's attitude and appeal. I love how the usage of sequins emulates an ikat right off the Athena's loom and creates a bohemian effect that is all-around chic & stylish.

Channeling Versace

A look ahead to Versace Fall 2008 is an inspirational push provided by dutch artist Tim Roeloffs. A photoreal monatage of Versace-esque textiles and references printed on a colorful backdrop evokes a strong mental image that is functional & flirty. The bonus is that this pattern is impeccably engineered to provide an intersting visual that is modern & sophisticated. This print is an homage to the great style and expert tailoring of Gianni Versace and can be re-worked to achieve several silhouettes for seasons to come.

"transculturalism"

The global surge to become "green" and raise environmental awarness is not only the hottest political topic, but also the mission statement of the world's foremost design houses.

Identifying with patterns and textures from the most remote regions of the planet will be deployed in Spring 2009. Abstract variations of familiar textiles and icons seen around the world will create distinct looks on the racks.

The color story for the season is one that honors the rainbow of cultures with hues of personality and will bring the natural simplicity of this season's fabric direction.