Fashion Week’s finest FLARE’s fashion team dishes on the looks they loved from the spring season
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Spring 2009 Editors’ Picks
Click for picks
Photos: Anthea Simms
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NEW YORK

Ralph Lauren, Spring 2009
Ralph Lauren, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
No one does luxe like Ralph Lauren, whose simple harem pants were elevated to a whole new level with gilded sequins.
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NEW YORK

Rodarte, Spring 2009
Rodarte, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
Karen and Kate Mulleavy seamlessly marry art and fashion into their intricately crafted clothes by contrasting textures and punky chains with pretty pleats.
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NEW YORK

3.1 Phillip Lim, Spring 2009
3.1 Phillip Lim, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
The zippered-edged ruffles on this tank have the tough chic look that prevailed throughout the collection. The blush pink skirt is also one of the freshest colours this season.
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NEW YORK

Thakoon, Spring 2009
Thakoon, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
A pretty print, intricate pleats and billowing silhouette; what’s not to love about this dress?
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NEW YORK

Alexander Wang, Spring 2009
Alexander Wang, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
Wang’s downtown party girl look is a hot ticket right now. This bondage inspired dress is super sexy.
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NEW YORK

Marchesa, Spring 2009
Marchesa, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
‘Pretty’ just doesn’t do this Marchesa dress justice. Flowers made of feathers caged in delicate tulle: this is the stuff of red carpet dreams.
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NEW YORK

Jeremy Laing, Spring 2009
Jeremy Laing, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
I may be biased towards our homegrown fashion star but Laing managed to bring an element of cool to easy sportswear pieces like this parachute skirt.
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NEW YORK

Narciso Rodriguez, Spring 2009
Narciso Rodriguez, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
I’m a sucker for a hot dress and this body con look is statement enough, no jewelry required.
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NEW YORK

Proenza Schouler, Spring 2009
Proenza Schouler, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
The structured shoulders and 80’s influence make this jacket a must-have.
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NEW YORK

Marc Jacobs, Spring 2009
Marc Jacobs, Spring 2009
Elizabeth Cabral, Fashion Director, FLARE:
Who knew Mary Poppins and Eliza Doolittle could be fashion inspirations? Jacobs’ eclectic mish-mash and out-of-the-box references make him a fashion pioneer.
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MILAN

Burberry Prorsum, Spring 2009
Burberry Prorsum, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
I loved Christopher Bailey’s edgy update on the classics: a skinny cheesecloth pant and slouchy boyfriend jacket married with organic-inspired jewelry.
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MILAN

Prada, Spring 2009
Prada, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
Leave it to Lady Miuccia to come up with something so unexpected. The models shone in wrinkled gold lamé evoking luxury but cut in a very wearable way.
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MILAN

Prada, Spring 2009
Prada, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
The bra top and pencil skirt combo was elegant and restrained but the model’s heavily oiled chests just oozed sex appeal.
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MILAN

Jil Sander, Spring 2009
Jil Sander, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
Raf Simons’ version of the super slim bike short was so clean and modern and summed the new minimalism of the season.
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MILAN

Jil Sander, Spring 2009
Jil Sander, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
This stunning fringed dress left me breathless. I was amazed at how the fringe moved over the body exposing the skin as the model moved.
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MILAN

Marni, Spring 2009
Marni, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
Consuelo Castiglioni’s collection was so quirky and unexpected yet stayed true to her label. The colourburst plastic paillettes on this top and skirt gave a dose of energy to the entire look.
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MILAN

Fendi Spring 2009
Fendi Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
Even though the model looks like she got caught in a windstorm, I adore how Karl Lagerfeld updated the bell skirt with the narrow underskirt—so modern.
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MILAN

Gucci, Spring 2009
Gucci, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
The cropped python jacket was a standout piece on the catwalk. With hits of turquoise and coral peaking out underneath, Frida Giannini’s version with had a youthful girl-about-town vibe.
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MILAN

Allessandro Dell’Acqua, Spring 2009
Allessandro Dell’Acqua, Spring 2009
Tammy Palmer, Senior Market Editor, FLARE:
Feathers are the haute new embellishment and such a fresh way to lend a staple button down shirt some edge.
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PARIS

Chanel, Spring 2009
Chanel, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Karl Lagerfeld perfected his recipe – tweeds and camellias to the classic quilted bag – with this look for Chanel. And he showed it in front of a facade of Chanel’s rue Cambon studio – brilliant!
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PARIS

Lanvin, Spring 2009
Lanvin, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
From the juicy hues to the glittering heels, Alber Elbaz’s one shoulder dress is a stunning visual feast.
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PARIS

Dries van Noten, Spring 2009
Dries van Noten, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Dries is often inspired by exotic locales but this season, his influence was North American sportswear. In his hands, the simple white shirt and lushly sequined bathrobe topper is fresh but exquisite – and left me clamouring for more.
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PARIS

Maison Martin Margiela, Spring 2009
Maison Martin Margiela, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Margiela celebrated his 20th anniversary with a retro collection of past concepts – rather than a spring trend line. With this look in particular, love it or hate it, there’s no denying his quirky impact on the past two decades.
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PARIS

Balenciaga, Spring 2009
Balenciaga, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Nicholas Ghesquière’s solar-panel inspired iridescent dresses and “dinosaur foot” boots prove that innovation is alive and flourshing – as always – in Paris.
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PARIS

Yves Saint Laurent, Spring 2009
Yves Saint Laurent, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Like Muiccia Prada, Stefano Pilati’s collections can be puzzling at first but his influence is quickly felt across the fashion landscape. This season was no different with his droopy drawer cropped trouser, sheer blouse and caged footwear.
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PARIS

Louis Vuitton, Spring 2009
Louis Vuitton, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
It’s hard to pick a favourite look from this but this one from Louis Vuitton really stood out. Inspired by the jazz age in Paris, Marc Jacobs celebrated colour, form, accessories and unabashed sexiness.
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PARIS

Sonia Rykiel, Spring 2009
Sonia Rykiel, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
The queen of knitwear celebrated her 40th anniversary with a joyous dinner party and runway show. One can’t help but smile and clap as Rykiel’s models, dressed in bright colours and easy shapes, skipped down the runway.
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PARIS

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009
Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
From pirates to sailors, Gaultier’s shows always have a theme. This season, Canadian sweetheart Coco Rocha kicked up her heels with a modern dance routine. What followed was this easy jersey look wrapped and tied to stunning effect.
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PARIS

Stella McCartney, Spring 2009
Stella McCartney, Spring 2009
Lisa Tant, Editor-in-Chief, FLARE:
Spring ’09 is definitely Stella’s season to shine. All of her signatures – all-in-ones (such as this teal look), boyfriend jackets and relaxed tailoring – are top trends and she nailed each and every one.
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