Chances are when you think of Lacoste, you think of a pique polo in pale pink adorned with a cute little crocodile. The brand, while never forsaking its roots, is looking to elevate itself off the tennis court and golf course and into your daily wardrobe, with very intriguing results this season. This is Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first collection for the brand–you’ll recall that former Lacoste creative director Christophe Lemaire decamped for Hermes last year. While Lemaire invigorated the brand a lot, Baptista seems to be out to really turn it on its head.

What do you do when you’re named a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund? If you’re Antonio Azzuolo, you relax. Azzuolo’s Spring 2012 collection took its inspiration from les minets, a rebellious French mod movement that involved dressing up, starting shit and calling themselves great names like “les bloussons noir” (I can happily note that [...]

As soon as Giovanna Randall’s first look walked out, it was all over. We were enamored.

Several small fans were stationed at the start of the runway, and as Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me” (which you may recognize from a very memorable Dirty Dancing scene) began to play, they created an intentional Marilyn Monroe moment with the first look: a paisley silk organza cupcake dress, but without the coyness. The model just stood their for a second, letting it happen. It took our breath away, inspired the audience to applaud and set the tone for the rest of the show: unadulterated gorgeousness via sweet ‘60s glamour with a sense of humor. Apparently, someone cried at Honor’s first show and while that sounds like a rather extreme reaction to clothes, we totally get it now.

The clothes were so precious, delicate and beautiful, it was hard to believe they were real.

There were a lot of really beautiful looks at Doo.Ri, but our favorite by far had to be the purple, printed pajama-like shirt and pant set. Of course we are biased–we loved the trend on the runways last season, and we’re happy Doo.Ri is keeping it going–and executing it well, no less. Our only bone to pick is that we didn’t see more of the silky prints.

That being said, we were also pretty smitten with the slew of drapey dresses, which Doo.Ri has built a solid reputation on. In particular, the floor-length grey jersey dress with plunging neckline and daring slit, moved beautifully on the runway–and gave the impression that it would feel like pajamas, while looking like a red carpet-worthy gown.

Jill Stuart’s not the go-to for New York’s distinctively sinister look, but if it’s layer cake clothing you’re looking for—you’ve found your match. Continuing with her ‘I’m big in Japan’ cutesy signatures (I’ve been informed by a friend in Tokyo that she’s actually THE rage there), Stuart presented a collection of macaron-colored dresses—chalky pinks, mint greens, and sunshine yellows, accessorized with disheveled doll hair and an irreverence towards downtown’s grim poster girls. A procession of long-sleeved tunic dresses, quilted overcoats, and candy-like dresses marched down the runway to cali youth-quake tunes, all layered into a my-sized Moda Barbie look.