One of the looks emerging at New York Fashion Week was pure rock: form-fitting, hard-edged - and back in black after a year of mostly gray.
The fall 2008 collection of Nicole Miller is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Friday Feb. 1, 2008. Slim pants in dark colors were featured in the collection which adopted an edgy, rock 'n' roll tone.
Miller's fall line reflected a suit of armor motif, with fleur-de-lis prevalent in the collection, among designs that used dramatic, metallic fabrics that were accented with shots of azure and citrine color prints. The designer says the bold designs were inspired by the likes of Joan of Arc and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The fall 2008 collection of Nicole Miller is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Friday, Feb. 1, 2008. Outside Miller's traditional comfort zone of cute cocktail dresses were a black, zip-front catsuit and draped silk dresses in chain-mail or fleur-de-lis prints.
Miller also hit on the miniskirt and the yin-and-yang dynamic that seems to be emerging as a trend, with either loose tops and tight bottoms or vice versa.
Super-skinny black pants with patchs of blue stain is paired with a boxy coat from Nicole Miller on the runway during Fashion Week in New York, Friday, Feb. 1, 2008. "I love the coats in the collection, we did a lot of them and I really love the way the shoes turned out," Miller said.
DKNY
Models wear fashion from the DKNY fall 2008 collection shown during Fashion Week, New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. Designer Donna Karan showed off her handiwork with the theme of "eclectic glamour."
Red, camel, purple and gold were featured in the silk prints used for balloon-hem minidresses and plaids on jackets in the collection that targets a younger and trendier customer than her signature - and more expensive - Donna Karan label that will be shown to editors, stylists and retailers on Friday, Feb. 8.
A model walks the runway in a fringed sweater dress from the DKNY fall 2008 collection shown during Fashion Week, New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008.
Models wear fashion from the DKNY fall 2008 collection shown during Fashion Week, New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008.
A mini skirt from the DKNY fall 2008 collection shown during Fashion Week, New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008.
Herve Leger by Max Azria
The fall 2008 collection of Herve Leger by Max Azria is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. A skintight, bandagelike dress is the signature of the Leger label, which the Los Angeles-based Azria - of BCBG fame - recently resurrected by putting many celebrities in vintage versions of the formfitting yet surprisingly flattering silhouette.
Azria wasn't afraid of calling attention to his dresses, dresses, ranging from minis to gowns, adding all sorts of embellishment - feathers, sequins and grosgrain ribbons - with varying degrees of success.
The fall 2008 collection of Herve Leger by Max Azria is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. Azria never strayed from the bandage formula but he tried it in more fabrics, including chunky knits, and experimented with coats, pants and tops, too.
Tracy Reese
The fall 2008 collection of Tracy Reese is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. Reese's refined look returned in a series of ladylike outfits that were just edgy enough to advance the designer's signature style.
Thanks to some bright colors, asymmetrical details and a mix of unexpected prints, the fall collection felt new, but underneath was Reese's core piece: the all-occasion frock.
The fall 2008 collection of Tracy Reese is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008.
Rock & Republic
Rock & Republic's fall 2008 collection is modeled during Fashion Week in New York Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008.
The palette of Rock & Republic's fall 2008 collection was limited to mostly black and gray -- with the occasional flash of deep purple. An orchestra - complete with a shiny baby grand piano on the runway - provided much of the 1970s rock 'n' roll soundtrack for the show.
The fall 2008 collection of Rock & Republic is modeled during Fashion Week in New York Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. The collection was all about gangster chic, with old-school, underworld classics, such as fedoras, trenchcoats and watchman jackets.
The fall 2008 collection of Rock & Republic is modeled during Fashion Week in New York Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008.