Juan Carlos Obando

Of course, Alexa Chung carried that furry pink Shrimps clutch we all want.

Starting on Wednesday, you can grab a piece to support the next generation of American fashion.

This one was a nail-biter.

One lesson: "Clothes are important, research is important, but your personality is how you present it all to the world."

A pure-menswear brand has never won the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund. This year, that may change.

These guys have a busy few months ahead of them.

Watching last night's award show, we laughed (thank you, Jane Lynch), we cried (Friday Night Light's Kyle Chandler tends to do that to us), but most of all we admired the show-stopping creatures that ruled the red carpet. Oh, and the actresses wearing them didn't look too shabby either. From Kate Winslet's fire-engine red gown (red on the red carpet was kind of a thing last night) to Gwyneth Paltrow's midriff-baring top (yes we know, what a show-off), check out our favorite red carpet looks from last night.

Film stars did the red carpet proud this week. Greta Gerwig celebrated Arthur in a stunning Narciso Rodriguez frok, Diane Kruger kept it casual in Celine flats, Michelle Monaghan took a well-played risk in the fabulous Juan Carlos Obando, and Hanna star Saoirse Ronan stunned in Chanel. Our token model, Jessica Stam, proved her worth in an adorably dotty Emporio Armani ensemble.

Los Angeles-based designer Juan Carlos Obando impressed us last season with his retro, space-inspired glamor. This season was more even more glamorous, but he took the refined look up a notch, sticking with lean silhouettes inspired by Carla Bruni. Also like last season, Obando used Swarovski crystals to create texture and patterns on the clothing. While we were partial to last year's constellations, this collection's black on black styles were more subtle, thus more sophisticated.

Since working with Isabella Blow in the '00s, Nadja Swarovski and her fashion team have made it their responsibility to support designers--both emerging and established--during fashion week and beyond. This season, Swarovski will underwrite the shows of several important New York, London, Milan, and Paris designers. In New York, this includes:

Juan Carlos Obando, sponsored by Swarovski this season, was one of the few designers to tackle the futuristic for Spring 2011. A collection that belongs in both the pages of Vogue as much as it does in the pages of V, it was Mad Men-meets-Martians, if you will. And I liked it. Obando, who is based in Los Angeles, sent out thick silk fabric that was almost plush in its design--kind of like a very, very thin puffy coat. And with prints that reminded me of outer space. (The Swarovski element was present in the black rhinestone beading purposefully sprinkled on the back of a few dresses--it was highly effective.) While the prints were futuristic, the silhouettes were pure vintage. Plenty of peplums and tulip skirts--my favorites. Obando's been seeing buyers at the Swarovski showroom over the course of the week. We're betting his pieces will be stocked in even more retailers come next spring.

Swarovski just released the list of shows it'll be sponsoring for Spring 2011. The roster is long, but distinguished: Prabal Gurung Juan Carlos Obando Erdem GILES Marios Schwab Richard Nicoll Mark Fast JW Anderson Holly Fulton Henry Holland Michael van der Ham Louise Goldin What does a Swarovski sponsorship afford designers?