Every few years, usually following a few highly-sexualized seasons, fashion scribes tend to herald “the return of the lady” to the runways - an influx of demure, conservative or especially feminine fashions following a trend toward the exact opposite.  This season, however, might just mark the first time in recent memory that every major designer favored subtlety over sleaze.  Even the normally body-conscious and oversexed Versace (above), Roberto Cavalli, and Dolce and Gabbana collections skewed remarkably conservative, with higher necklines, lower hemlines, and looser silhouettes.

Why such a blatant turnaround now?  Perhaps, with the media focused on the latest crop of celebs-behaving-badly, the artists of the fashion world are looking to start a trend in the opposite direction.  The epitome of chic is always the unnatainable; and if the women of the world are currently leaning toward the sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle, what could be chicer than this prim, buttoned-up, more subtly alluring aesthetic?

Marc by Marc Jacobs’ tie-neck dress and Nanette Lepore’s sweet printed frock perfectly capture the mood of this Spring’s runways.

Posted on December 21st, 2007 by ashley