Now in her third season, thanks to a loving nudge from Andre Leon Talley, Laura Smalls shines with beautiful clothing for elegant women. One of her little white dresses (a trend for spring season) includes a fit-and-flare bodice and a delicate hood.
Captions by Harriette Cole
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Evening wear is a Laura Smalls specialty. This bronze metal shadow striped gown with a mermaid hem drew audible gasps at her show.
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Veteran couturier b Michael decided to dedicate his show this season to uplifting and remembering Haiti. To that end, he used Haitian-inspired prints on some garments, as with this whimsical day dress.
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b Michael chose jewelry made by Haitian hands to complement this casual ensemble. The trousers feature a mud-cloth-like pattern.
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For an infusion of color, b Michael featured a sweet pink strapless cocktail dress with a veil on one sleeve.
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Rachel Roy's silhouettes this season were sleek, with a bit of menswear inspiration. One outfit here features a cropped trouser paired with a structured bustier over a shirt. The other pairs a printed cardigan, turquoise shirt and caramel menswear shorts. Both manage to be both sexy and androgynous.
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For dress-up, Rachel Roy chose sumptuous metallic fabrics cut into the simplest silhouettes.
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The Vessel by Lois, designed by former model Lois Samuels, features menswear-inspired minimalist silhouettes with a twist, like this suit featuring cutoff pants.
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Pin stripes on a business dress show the designer's ability to play it straight.
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The design duo of Benjamin Channing Clyburn and Sonia Yoon created subtle prints on easy silhouettes. A showstopper was the mix of soft animal prints with a long flowing skirt and a sheer menswear shirt.
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A trendy burst of color came in this flirty dress in bold yellow-green sorbet.
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LaQuan Smith's fantastical show was inspired by days of old in France: the time of Marie Antoinette. This feisty little tapioca dress is perfect for editorial -- not so sure about the streets of New York City, let alone Chicago or Atlanta.
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LaQuan Smith is hot right now, so much so that he attracted cameo catwalkers such as singer Cassie, wearing this brocade number.
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Smith also coaxed Serena Williams into walking his show in a dress that had been completed only moments before she stepped onto the runway.
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Years ago, Project Runway designer Epperson staged an outdoor fashion show at Bryant Park, timed perfectly as some of the biggest editors waited to see a show. This year, Shavonne Cooper used the grand stairs of the plaza at Lincoln Center to present five ensembles, including a geometrically cut romper.
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Byron Lars is famous for sculpting clothing to accentuate the positives of a woman's body. This double-breasted coatdress does that and more with grace and ease.
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A flirty lace ensemble presents a new twist on Byron Lars' craftsmanship.
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Working with his signature fabric matte jersey as well as other fine fabrics, Stephen Burrows designed sexy city clothes inspired by the New York City skyline.
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Travel was the theme for Tracy Reese's Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show. She envisioned going to many global locales and traveling with the only wardrobe, like this little blue dress with beaded circle appliqués and a dash of chiffon at the bust.
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