New York Look

It’s been a while since velvet got so much nighttime exposure. Derek Lam and Marc Jacobs made theirs plunge-neck and slinky, while Ralph Lauren embellished with embroidery and feathers.

It’s not just a motto on a T-shirt; Viktor & Rolf created soft sculpture from the words “No” and “Dream,” while Chado Ralph Rucci scribbled long lines of text on gowns.

Not all the color stories were jewel-toned and autumnal. Narciso Rodriguez did a pistachio coat, Rodarte sent out ballerina pink dresses, and at Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière used shimmery powder blue on a short dress.

Layers are obligatory for fall. This season, Dries Van Noten and Undercover started from a base of skinny pants; at Marni and Rick Owens, swingy jackets finished off the outfit.

Matching pants and jacket? How old school. At Nina Ricci, Olivier Theyskens made a suit with rough wool over satin pants. Yves Saint Laurent’s version paired tweed with flannel, and at Emporio Armani, charcoal trousers and a navy jacket is the new power ensemble.

Black-Clad Dervish

The force that is Karl Lagerfeld powers through Chanel’s preshow prep with a seemingly endless source of new ideas.

This Year's Girl

Classic, fresh-faced beauty Ali Stephens is this seasons standout model in a sea of so much pretty.