JOURNAL

Fashion Week by the Numbers

It's like box scores, except it's fashion, broken down to the minute.

First, We Bought an Art Book

The Proenza Schouler boys reconstruct the birth of their spring collection, from a book found in L.A. to a Japanese kimono, by way of Karen Blixen.

Fantasy and War Paint

That’s how Pat McGrath sums up her spring makeup.

Where Fashion Flocks

When it comes to their twice-yearly trips to New York, Milan, and Paris, editors are herd animals—eating, drinking, and gathering at the same spots time and time again. Here, the well-worn paths.

The Fourth Capital: What to Know About London

It’s inconsistent as a show destination, but five labels are putting the city back on fashion-pilgrimage itineraries.

All Night Long, All Week Long

After the show day ended, the parties began. Here, a fraction of the New York activity.

RUNWAY SLIDESHOWS

Flowers Are Everywhere

It’s as if we went to sleep in New York and woke up in Tahiti. Floral prints showed up on almost every runway: big and splashy or demure and pastel.

Evening Is Weightless

Gowns are lighter than air, made from tissue-thin silk (or even, at Lanvin, high-tech polyester) in eye-popping tropical paradise colors.

Legs Are the New Cleavage

The erogenous zone moved south as dozens of designers embraced very short shorts, for evening or day.

Cocktail Dresses Explode in Crayola Colors

Designers such as Narciso Rodriguez and Donatella Versace used vibrant, tart colors to put the little black dress into temporary retirement.

The Art Gallery Comes Alive

Art Nouveau motifs at Prada. Rothko hues at Marni. Pollock-y splashes at Dolce & Gabbana. For spring, designers borrowed from modern art for inspiration.

Men’s Clothes Loosen Up

Some of the ideas at the spring men’s collections, like leggings, were pure entertainment. Others, like light-colored suits, were real-life wearable.

Dresses Are Confections

The shapes were simple, the surface treatments profound. The Mulleavy sisters used cascading beads, frayed silk, and fragile pink poppies.

Turn on the Low Beams

Shine this season is meant to gleam, not blind. Olivier Theyskens at Nina Ricci put a hippie spin on luster with satin trousers and a printed T.

Some Trends Are Fine Being Small

There were the megatrends —and then there were the micros. Some were indicators of a soon-to-be-shifting silhouette. Others meant a look has staying power.

DOCUMENTARY

From Every Angle

Magnum photographer Paolo Pellegrin captures the beauty, chaos, and drama of the runways.

REPORT

Saturday in the Park With Ralph

Forty years in the fashion business is reason to celebrate. After taking a bow at the end of his spring show, Ralph Lauren invited everyone to an alfresco dinner. In Central Park.

What Goes Around Comes Around Again

The rise, fall, expansion, and contraction of the skirt, from prehistory to the present.

Oh, Marc

His shows are always late, hot, crowded, uncomfortable—but he’s always forgiven. Until this year, when some in the fashion industry finally turned on Marc Jacobs, and he turned back on them.

Trends in Accessories

Accessories provided art and commerce, sometimes at the same time, like whimsical hats; wide, bold belts; the tiniest clutches; and the biggest necklaces.

Bare Legs Are Boring

Straps, wraps, boots, elaborately constructed pants—dressing didn’t stop at the knee.

Everybody’s Favorite Face

Plus four other new models who stirred up the runways this season.

The Leopard Changes His Spots

We thought we knew Roberto Cavalli — animal prints, plunging necklines, thigh-high slits, showgirl glam. We were wrong.

It Doesn’t Get Much Simpler

Designers including Michael Kors and Calvin Klein gave clueless guys a break this season by endorsing head-to-toe monochrome.

When the Backdrop Is the Star

At the Paris spring shows, sometimes the sets were as breathtaking as the clothes.

The Show of the Season

Alber Elbaz hit every mark with his spring Lanvin collection.

Anna Loves Roger

The world’s greatest tennis player. The world’s most famous fashion editor. That’s quite a couple.