One of the best parts of going to so many fashion shows is that you get to see what’s in style before it’s in fashion. What can be better than picking up a trend before it’s trendy? So, here is a little peak at winter 2012. Will you incorporate these looks into your wardrobe now to be be ahead of the fashion curb?

Hats

Clockwise: Donna Karan, Norma Kamali, Marc Jacobs, Nicole Miller, Milly, Rachel Zoe, Nicholas K, Ralph Lauren

Big, little, short, fat, wide, skinny, traditional, modern, wacky, sleek and even fluffy — hats were everywhere on the runway. We suggest seeking out what’s left of this year’s winter merchandise to find the perfect exclamation point for you.

Gloves

Clockwise: Jason Wu, Charlotte Ronson, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Chado Ralph Rucci, Douglas Hannat

Short, long, leather, fingerless, black, studded and colored were just some of the combinations of gloves found on the runway. To capture this classic look now, we suggest hunting vintage and thrift stores to find the perfect hand-to-arm accessory.

Metallics

Clockwise: Marc Jacobs, Ports 1961, Jeremy Scott, Alexandre Herchovitch, L’Wren,  PrabalGurung

Want to dazzle like a fashion star? Add a bit of glitter to your look. Designers glimmer to add texture to their collections. For “at home use” we suggest adding a metallic blouse or sweater and leaving the head-to-toe look for the runway.

Fur

Clockwise: The Row, J. Mendel, Vivienne Tam, Dennis Basso, Ports 1961, Michael Kors

We never recall seeing so much fur on the runway. Of course, there was fur from the usual suspects but a wide array of designers decided to add the faux and the real stuff to their collection. It’s wonderful to have one high quality fur but search your local vintage store and markets for a fur that’s an over-the-top statement piece.

All photos from Stye.com

Fashion Notes: 
Fiona Cibani’s winter collection for Ports 1961 showcased a futuristic combination of patchwork textiles and varied proportions. To be clear, when we say “future” we don’t mean space-age strangeness. Imagine fashion today with a the envelope nudged forward. The result was a sophisticated elegance.

Key Looks:
Boxy, metallic leather shirts and dresses, along with tulip sleeved dresses and tops.

Silhouettes:
The look of the Ports 1961 woman is always sophistication. This season, the shape was a stiff rectangle sometimes created with a patchwork of textures and proportions.

Textiles:
Mink, cashmere, double faced virgin wool pieced and matched together for a modern sophistication.

By ManhattanMataHari

Fashion Notes:
Military is back in a big way with the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection for men and women. The collection executed a more playful, youthful edge to military-chic, with some exhibiting even a preppy twist. Perhaps Marc is suggesting a new uniform for military school. We are sure the kids would love that!

Key Look
The military style peacoats will surely be a hit on the sales floors. In addition, liked the blue and black striped dresses and tops.

Silhouettes
Billowy dresses and full skirts had plenty of movement, but the belted and structured peacoats were the most figure-flattering designs. Going with this season’s hat theme, Marc opted for soldier hats to accent many of his looks.

Textiles
Jacobs used lots of military wool grays, punctuated by prepster plaids, and pops of color in stripes and prints. Dresses were shown in a varity of textures, including velvet, plaid, mesh and lamé.

Scene
Last night the Armory was a magical fantasy land for the Marc Jacobs collection. In contrast, the Marc by Marc Jacobs show was austere, which further drove home the military theme.

By ManhattanMataHari 

Fashion Notes:
Behnaz Serafpour is best known for her modern dresses that ooze elegance and class, but the designer has begun catering to demands for more casual looks, branching out into some great fall separates and outerwear.

Key Look:
Metallic gold dresses in various fabrics and styles were the collection’s standouts pieces. Her fabulously structured wool blend outerwear were also sublime.


Silhouettes:
Serafpour wavered between her more fluid metallic pleated designs and her highly structured wool blends and lace dresses.

Textiles:
Textured gold, camel wool-blends, and delicate lightweight metallic pleated fabrics were supplemented by several stiff black lace numbers. There were also some nice belted leather and fur embellished vests, which are a nice departure from last fall’s “wookie” fur vests.


Scene:
The presentation took place at Ogilvy’s Chocolate Factory. Long draped panels were used to obscure the rotation of looks, with models alternating between being on display and hidden behind the panels.

Fashion Notes:
For her latest collection Pamella Roland created a winter wonderland that was inspired by her days skiing in Aspen. The setting was perfect for her glamorous winter gowns and dazzling fur coats. We especially loved the unique wood prints that most people would suspect as a marble pattern.

Key looks:
Red carpet gowns including stretch twill draped dresses and gowns with icicle beading and tuille

Textiles:
Structured silks, metallics, fur and subtle jacquards

Silhouettes:
Definitive daywear and lux layering pieces were shown alongside cocktail dresses and sleek, flowing gowns for all occasions and red carpet appearances.

Fashion Notes:
If you’re going to attend a Dennis Basso fashion show, make sure it’s the winter collection. The man is undeniably the master of fur and the designer showed lots of it in his latest runway collection.We saw fur arranged in all types of ways– horizontal, vertical and diagonal. So many beautiful shades of color makes you wonder why customers always go for black and brown. Perhaps a shot of orange for you next shrug?

Key looks:
Loved loved loved the sapphire chinchilla, which is a great alternative to black or brown

Textiles:
Fur and lots of it– Russian sable, broadtail, ermine, lynx, chinchilla and Fox

Silhouettes:
Dazzling elegance topped with the richness of fur fur fur

Scene:
Joan Rivers, Kelly Bensimon, Susan Lucci, Ivanka Trump and Star Jones

Fashion Notes:
The winter Fotini collection was based on the commanding strength of woman– Cleopatra, Helen of Troy and Queen Nefertiti. Through a ranging combination of fabrics the designer created a capsule evening collection.

Key looks:
Black and silver lace cocktail dress

Textiles:
Chiffon with jacquard, leather lace and scaly and snakeskin jersey

Silhouettes:
Special event cocktail attire