DRESSES: While some pants, shorts and skirts were shown, dresses are the blossoming trend of spring. Delicate and whimsical dresses in peach, seafoam and white filled Rodarte's ultra-feminine collection, which proved to be a crowd favorite. Ruffles, asymmetrical hemlines and one-shoulder, Grecian-inspired silhouettes were also prominent. Lanvin unveiled a stop-you-in-your-tracks green gown fit for a goddess.
PATENT LEATHER AND METALLICS: This trend continued its run from the last few seasons. Sleek shininess adhered to shoes and bags, particularly in Yves Saint Laurent's collection.
THE WAISTLINE: Belts and precise tailoring glorified the waistline. While most nips at the waist conjured up thoughts of the 1950s, a trench coat (along with eye patches and do rags) in Jean Paul Gaultier's collection summoned Jack Sparrow and his fellow pirates to the hull, then sunk the out-of-place, figurative ship. Waistline: good. Sea robbers at a fashion show: bad.
FLORALS AND POLKA DOTS: Andrew Gn opened the show with dozens of dots, and more followed his boisterous lead. Donna Karan, among others, took to retro-inspired florals. Her geranium-belted, strapless parasol dress called for a picnic in the park on a sunny day.
COLOR AND THE LACK THEREOF: Vibrant colors (Missoni, Lanvin, Gn, Michael Kors) and classic black and white reigned. Giambattista Valli closed the show with a predominantly black-and-white collection worthy of an encore.
