Runway could preview red carpet

Peter Kramer, Associated Press

From left, actors Ellen Pompeo, Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane attend the Michael Kors 2008 Fall Collection Wednesday.

By Sara Glassman, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: February 6, 2008 - 6:03 PM

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On the fifth day of fashion week, there were many gowns that might be seen next on the red carpet.

Badgley Mischka's collection featured day wear with flouncy hats and fur or feather vests over chiffon blouses and skirts. However, the real stars were the beaded gowns, such as a full-length strapless dress that started out white at the top and turned into silver to gold to copper and into black at the bottom.

Then, Monique Lhuillier proved her mastery of embellishments as she reinterpreted and modernized the 1930s. "There's this whole flapper, loungy, smokey glamorous vibe going on in the collection," she said before the show. "There's a lot of feathers, because I want to get movement on the runway. I picked colors from peacock feathers."

A striking example of the palette was a waist-conscious green dress with a peacock-feather collar. Gowns with multicolored jewel-encrusted necklines or shrugs would surely light up the faces of front-rowers Brittany Murphy, Becki Newton (from "Ugly Betty), Amy Smart, Kim Raver, Joy Bryant and Sophia Bush.

Just a few rows back were several Minnesotans, including Diane Carlson of Wayzata, Nancy Nicholson of St. Paul, Kerry Ciardelli-Olson, owner of Victory in Minneapolis. They'll be able to shop these looks at Lhuillier's boutique in Edina, her only retail store outside of Los Angeles.

In a show that was basically the opposite, Marc by Marc Jacobs presented a fall line with attitude. Black, dark blues, grays, and white were pumped up with punches of neon green, pink, and yellow and silver hardware such as buckles, zippers, and buttons. So an indigo satin dress was paired with hot pink booties and a yellow dress was almost completely hidden under a black coat and all black accessories. Shoes were primarily flat booties with buckles, either black or one of the line's brights.

Two blondes were easily spotted in the front row -- stylist Rachel Zoe and Fergie.

Next up: Nanette Lepore, Michael Kors and Milly.

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