Velvet Underground

Velvet is tricky: you just know it will never be in style in the springtime, but that won’t stop anyone from buying it in the winter. I’ve always been a fan of the unique fabric - it adds a warm, mysterious, seasonal vibe to any outfit. Expect to see tons of it this fall, as it was all over the most recent runways.

At Donna Karan, it came in the form of flapper dresses in olive and gold, garnished with the exotic, 1920s touches - here, intricate shoes, pleating, and matching gloves - that have felt so cutting-edge since last year’s Costume Institute Poiret exhibit.

Derek Lam, meanwhile, featured lacy, head-to-toe black gothic evening glamor, finished with dramatic net hairpieces and dark nails:

Alberta Ferretti showed scores of ladylike shifts in rich colors, with tights and mary-janes.The styling was reminiscent of 60’s style icons like Jean Shrimpton and Marianne Faithfull, with a sleek modern edge. The offerings at Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti were heavy on velvet as well, but were there paired with lots of girlish bows and lace.

Ralph Lauren, as per usual, went for his classic look. These dresses too were shown with dark tights, but the dresses were in Ralph’s classic royal colors, with strappy shoes, simple hair and makeup, and ballerina-inspired skirts.