Shoes, stockings afoot at show

Fall 2008 is months away, but in New York, two days into Fashion Week, the next cold season's sense of style is becoming clearer. A quartet of shows Saturday highlighted shoes, skirts and stockings.

Baby Phat's event was all bling from the first row to the runway show. Tyra Banks, Vivica A. Fox, Christina Milian, Joss Stone and Star Jones were in attendance for the unveiling of a fall collection that featured layers of flashiness. There were pearl-embellished jeans, feather skirts and sparkling buttons. Hosiery was key, including bright tights under short shorts or fishnet stockings held up by garters.

There was some play between formalwear and casual. For women that meant a top hat worn with hot pants and for men it was a top hat, bowtie, vest worn with jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt.

Erin Fetherston, who recently did a limited Go International collection for Target, is known for her über-feminine sensibilities. In her new collection, she presented a bolder side that included bright prints on flowy dresses and jackets. Good news for those who love the current tights trend: They'll still be in style next fall in black and all of the bolder hues. A radiant Anne Hathaway was in the front row.

Abaeté designer Laura Poretzky noted her inspiration as "French femininity, Brazilian sensuality, and American simplicity." Despite the broad influences, with circle skirts, pleated details, and subdued colors -- grays, black, slate blue and white -- her Saturday presentation was one of the most cohesive collections, from head to toe. Abaeté's shoes are a collection that Poretzky designs for Payless. A sleek gray bootie with topstitching that matches the details on the clothing will add sophistication to every fashionista's wardrobe.

Preppy label Lacoste used a runway made of lush, presumably faux, white fur -- possibly the world's largest bearskin rug -- as a canvas for a show that opened with grays and moved into primary colors and ended in shades of plum. The brand with the green alligator logo will be opening a store at the Mall of America later this year.

Coming Monday: Lela Rose, Tracy Reese and the return of Herve Leger (designed by Max Azria).

SARA GLASSMAN