Oscar De La Renta loves a strong woman. Each season he reiterates his appreciation for women that know what they want and know how to get it. His sincere devotion to a certain ideal of womanhood gives him an almost uncanny ability to hit the high points of an emerging cultural moment with his garments. Thus his Fall 2008 collection contains nearly every major trend for the fall season including opulent detailing, lean tailoring, layered textures, and color-of-the moment plum. And while the rest of the world is focused on another cultural moment we find ourselves completely mesmerized by Oscar's world. Oscar's laughing, confident, penetrating and, dare we say it, strong woman exemplifies our hope for a world in which substance matches style. And while we here at Coutorture feel quite privileged to be tackling these challenges a little early with the Fall 2008 garments featured in our editorial we expect the rest of fashion will have caught up by September. But by then Oscar De La Renta will have prepared yet another vision of womanhood for us. Proving that to be be truly strong one must always be a little bit ahead of the pack.

Contrived as it may seem luxe layers are an undeniable fall trend. After the fall shows we articulated our notion that 'layered texture' and 'luxe details' were at the forefront of fashion week. For a while, we editorialized them separately, taking layered silhouettes to mean one thing and that which was fur-trimmed, or adorned with lace, velvet, and shearling, to mean another. Then a republishing of the Fall 08 Proenza Schouler show changed all that for us. Queue layers of all varieties and a texture (aka sequins) which puts it in the luxe category at the same time.

Since then, as the deliveries trickle in and as chicsters have started wearing the fall trends in lighter, more weather-appropriate versions, we've come to feel that the combination of sequins (luxe) and cottons (layers), all loose and layered and slouchy, is a trend we will see a lot of for Spring 09. For our Fall's Top Five: Past & Present photo shoot, our stylist, Liz Baca took the slinkiest of silks and metallics and layered them with reckless (a key ingredient here) abandon. Below, check out our various trend galleries that we've (hehe) layered for you. Opulence, sequins, and layered texture. Mix it all up and keep a careful eye on the Proenza interpretation and you'll be in good shape.

When our network partner, Fops And Dandies, put together an outfit in homage of Elton John, we thought to expand on the idea with a little razzle dazzle of our own. Luckily, we're long past the days where young women wear sparkly tank tops and 'wet curls' in honor of a night on the town. That doesn't mean, however, a little sparkle is impossible to conjure. Indeed, New York City can bring out the drag queen in all of us and as a general rule, no matter how wacked you think you look when you step out the door, we guarantee someone else will have taken it a step further. Below, our spread of some summertime gems that would look great layered with different textures and colors, for a wild and crazy, dare we say it, 'boho luxe' look. Opulence, afterall, is a trend bound for Fall 08, so consider it a wise investment, if nothing else.


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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

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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.