Sure, it's probably the worst time of year to be editorializing extra-long fur coats but hey, sometimes you feel like a nut. When writing about the Jayson Brunsdon Spring/Summer 2008/09 show we'd made some reference to him being the sort of designer who is likely inspired by fashion icons like Marleine Deitrch. This, as any good blogger knows, had us searching Getty for her pictures and thus we bumped into a totally different usage of her on Coutorture. That is, we saw her wearing one magnificent long, white fur coat circa 1963. Where had we seen this coat before? The Blonds Fall 08 collection and our Glittering Cruelty photo shoot, of course. Is it just us or is fashion just one big conspiracy theory? Immaterial worthy if ever. Happy Monday.

Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall 2008 collection drove the fur trend full speed ahead. The furs and skins of every animal you could find at any American cities' hapless zoo, appeared in the Fall 2008 collection. They trimmed bags, draped necks, and adorned heads on almost every look that went down the runway. What impressed us the most was, with all that fur and texture, the garments slinked down the runway as if they were as light as chiffon and as easy to wear as silk jersey. Also a highlight were the super tailored, broad shouldered suiting in rich shades of brown. Between the fur and tailoring, we suspect these garments are the sort to be bought and kept for a lifetime, despite their being, admittedly, not for everyone. After all, it wouldn't be Gaultier if you saw it on the subway every morning.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

We've summarized the Fall 08 trends, as seen in New York Fashion Week. Although we're glad that the season's shows are nearly over, we don't mind reliving the trends for a sense of cohesion. Our thoughts on what Fall 08 in New York has come to represent include ladylike gloves, opulence, lean tailoring, plum (and a few other bright ideas), fur (an opulence overdose), bold tights, layered texture, and hats galore.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

Photo By Coutorture's Alex Norden backstage at James Coviello Fall 2008.

The zazaza this Fall 08 season was embraced by designers almost every step of the way. Indeed, opulence was everywhere. We saw it in jeweled frocks, in rich color, in glamorous furs. Oscar de la Renta, naturally, exhibited this theme with complete grace. Under Oscar's discretion, that is, opulence appears as luxury without laziness, manifested by those touches of prudence that save things from becoming garish or inappropriate. His take on the trend was, for evening, a jeweled frock that sleekly resembled a sea of dazzling city lights and was, for daytime, a ladylike cashmere sweater that was finished with resplendent floral brooches. Our gallery of opulence as shown by the designers in New York Fashion Week, including Monique Lhuillier, Ashleigh Verrier, and Bill Blass, among others, is below.

Links:
Oscar de la Renta Fall 08 Backstage
Oscar de la Renta Fall 08 Photo Gallery
Oscar de la Renta Fall 08 Video

So it seems our British friends have taken A/W 08 in an entirely different direction. That is, the fur and sparkle of New York's A/W 08, not to mention the deep plums and vibrant greens are virtually non-existent. London Fashion Week, thus far has been a little more Terminator, a little less Kindergarden Cop. Just take a peek at our photo galleries from Topshop Unique, Jacob Kimmie,
Krystof Strozyna, and Modernist Autumn, it's virtually another fashion world. All of these collections dominated by black and white, most with eruptions of red in the most brazen display (it's not worked in slowly, it's thrust into the collection and promptly removed). Sure, you could call upon Paul Smith from the Londoners, and
Camilla Staerk from the New Yorkers to argue that there is crossover. To which we'd say: "Despite some dandy-embellishments, Paul Smith is no different than Ralph Lauren, and Camilla Staerk is a newcomer. Those are bad examples.". So we win. And boy, do we love the fight.