Jill Stuart really knows her way around a pretty frock. From black lace, to gold-and-black chiffon, to sheer panelled silk in blushtones, there were frothy confections aplenty at her Fall 2013 show.

In fact her skill at creating ultra-feminine, super-pretty dresses and skirts is so great, that her other designs–the somewhat lackluster outerwear and pants–often get lost in the mix of things.

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The neophyte Hollywood starlets (and tartlets) tend to make a strong showing in the Jill Stuart front row, but the guest list proved a bit eclectic this time around. Kelly Bensimon and Olivia Palermo filled the reality show alum category and Twilight’s Nikki Reed was the real Hollywood starlet, not that it mattered anyway because the paparazzi’s attention was focused on the wide receiver of the Superbowl-winning New York Giants, Ramses Barden (and yes, I had to Google that).

When the flashbulb frenzy finally subsided and the lights went down, Jill Stuart went the opposite of her pastel theme for spring. For autumn, she went with a darker, retro rocker girl inspired palette, heavy on moody blacks with softer navy and deep wine shades mixed in for some kicks. The silhouettes were long and lean for trousers and flippy and above the knee for skirting (sometimes with wide knife-pleating). Textures included intricate gold leaf embroidery on an inky black canvas, sleek merlot-hued leather, gleaming digital patterned silks and strategically-placed sheer black chiffon and lacey panels. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up seeing one of the beautiful flapper-reminiscent sheer dresses with delicate silver sequined designs on a young starlet on the red carpet (or maybe a footballer’s girlfriend/wife?),

Afterwards, I caught up with Jill Stuart herself to hear what she had to say about her fall 2012 collection and the runway show.

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