Fashion's New Looks
At left, models walk the runway at the Yves Saint Laurent show March 1, 2007.
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"The clothes themselves had a lot more shape than they did in the past. We're looking at a lot more polished clothes than we've seen in seasons past, so there is really a return to something that is less disheveled," says Linda Wells, editor in chief of Allure.At left, a model wears a dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior on Feb. 27, 2007.
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"We've seen really, really beautiful shapes, I think particularly at Yves Saint Laurent," says Wells of the Paris designer ready-to-wear shows for Autumn/Winter 2007/2008.At left, a model shows a dress by Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent on March 1, 2007.
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The latest collections, Wells says, are "less kind of unraveled, that looks like you just threw it together from the vintage store. It really looks new, fresh -- very well-designed clothes."At left, a model wears an outfit by Miuccia Prada for Miu Miu in Paris on March 4, 2007.
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Designer Karl Lagerfeld is among those showing a longer look. "Waists are higher, even the skirts, and so everything looks longer," the designer told The Associated Press, "and with the boots, everything looks elongated. The two main ideas of the collection were elongation and coloration."Here, a model walks the runway in a dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel in Paris on March 2, 2007.
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A model shows a longer look from designer Marc Jacobs' collection for fashion house Louis Vuitton in Paris on March 4, 2007.
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Black is back in a huge way. But color was used to punctuate an outfit here and there, often in a brilliant canary yellow, flame red or hot pink.At left, a model walks the runway in an outfit designed by Albert Elbaz for Lanvin on March 4, 2007.
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At left, a model shows a white gown with black accents and a touch of gold by John Galliano for Christian Dior in Paris on Feb. 27, 2007.
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Still, black and white rules.Here, a model walks the runway in a design by Antonio Marras for the Kenzo fashion house on March 3, 2007.
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Allure editor Wells saw a bit of color in a sea of black and white. "Brick or burnt orange is coming back -- rust. It's a color that is a little hard to love, but in little bits and pieces we're seeing this strange orange, of off-red color."A model wears an outfit by designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris on March 3, 2007.
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It seems to have dawned on fashion's stars that their clients by and large are neither pre-teens nor bimbos. "The clothes are actually appropriate for the first time in a long time," says Hal Rubenstein, of InStyle. A grownup look prevails.Here, a model shows a casual outfit by Agnes B. in Paris on March 2, 2007.
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Of course, no one ever caught Valentino making trashy clothes.At left, a model walks the runway for Valentino in Paris on Feb. 28, 2007.
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A model wears an outfit by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel at his show in Paris on March 2, 2007.
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A model wears a grown-up outfit by designer Agnes B. in Paris on March 2, 2007.
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Uh-oh. Some designers are showing fashions that draw the eye to the hips, which is an interesting trend. Hilary Alexander of the "Daily Telegraph" says: "I am wondering if women will buy into it, seeing as the eternal question to lovers, boyfriends and husbands is, 'does my bum look big in this?'"At left, a model for Alexander McQueen on March 2, 2007.
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A model wears a hippy dress at the Giambattista Valli show in Paris on March 2, 2007.
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Forget what we just said about hips. Designers have given up trying to dictate the rules. Designer Marc Jacobs agrees: "Sometimes the emphasis was on the shoulders, sometimes on the hips, sometimes it was a very lean line, or clean, simple line. I don't think there was one silhouette that was right or wrong."A model walks the runway for Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton in Paris on March 4, 2007.