I Heart NY! with fashion week with inspired collection

Fashion week kicked off to a flying start in New York this week, with some delectable next season Spring/Summer 2012 offerings from some of the industry's brightest talents. Unfortunately the impending winter weather means that we probably wont see them out in force for another few months, but hey a girl has to have something to look forward to! The standout show for me so far has been Preen's Virginia Woolf inspired collection which managed to provide the perfect balance between girly charm and modern chic with cutting edge prints and sleek looking silhouettes. I loved the way that dreamy pastels were interspersed with bold pixelated prints, gradually taking on a more gothic edge towards the end of the show with edgy monochrome florals.

I am also coveting Donna Karans collection, whose bright yet wearable tribal pieces were inspired by a recent trip to Haiti. Muted earth-toned prints were perfectly complimented by accents of vibrant citrus, with signature figure-fixing drapes featuring throughout.

Bold prints seemed to be a common theme amongst many designers this week, with Derek Lam showcasing a combination of Aztec inspired prints bought bang up to date in resort ready colours. ADAM's collection is also worth a mention for it's interesting take on florals in flouro-candy inspired colours that looked good enough to eat!

Monochrome was huge in AW 2011, and also looks set to be one of the emerging trends in SS2012 as well. Oscar De La Rentas showstopping collection was monochrome heavy but was given a new season update by an outstanding use of contrasting textures. From sequins and light as air feathers to laser cut floral ruffles, this collection had it all, and was a perfect example of how designers can still continue to reinvent themselves, even after 40 years in the business!

Talking of reinvention, who would have thought that a lowly ex spice girl would now be such a worldwide fashion phenomenon? Celebrities du jour cant seem to get enough of her frocks, and after seeing her latest collection its easy to see why. Her Victoria by Victoria Beckham diffusion line, heavily influenced by cult phenomenon Emily The Strange featured a combination of strong structured shift silhouettes and bold graphic prints that were both fashion forward and extremely wearable. With prices starting around £450 it is probably not the most affordable of diffusion lines, but dont forget to watch this space as I can exclusively reveal that Goddiva will be producing a very similar style to the dress modelled by Victoria herself for just a fraction of the price!