--Photos: Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Valentino, Miu Miu, Prada, Club 21, FJ Benjamin, Tribeca, Hermes
Sporty
In the race to get sporty, the latest look taps a variety of outdoor pursuits.
Balenciaga (centre) worked it out with hoodies engineered from moulded leather, jersey and nylon.
Louis Vuitton (right) scored an ace with prom-meets-tennis dresses and brocade cycling shorts. Jean Paul Gaultier served tennis like a pro at Hermes (far right) with luxe variations on tennis skirts and a Birkin with a matching ball bag.
At Alexander Wang, it was an all-American football collection that made its mark on the runways. There were boxy outerwear pieces in nylon, denim and khaki paired with shorts and ribbed athletic socks.
Gucci's signature bamboo bag received a neoprene make-over, while Pucci's Peter Dundas delved into scuba-inspired dresses in Pucci's flamboyant prints.
Proenza Schouler took not one but two active references - surfing and skateboarding - and made them chic with plastic fringing, track pants and tank dresses.
Minimalist
If the noughties were a frou-frou nightmare for you, the good news is that designers have started the new decade with a clean slate.
Less is more and simple shapes and all-white ensembles have the edge again.
A resurgent Phoebe Philo at Celine (above, left) championed linear precision with sharp, trim skirts and wide-legged pants, while dresses at ck Calvin Klein (centre) made unstructured bareness work with bright primary hues.
Yves Saint Laurent showed a clean, clear eye with feminine takes on tailoring, featuring pencil-skirted suits and austere tuxedo looks.
What a career woman wants is what she gets at Jil Sander (right), with the label cutting it with minimalist neutral-toned day dresses.
The little white dress also took on a sexier slant, via Michael Kors' and Hussein Chalayan's bold cut-outs and thigh-high slits that reveal flashes of skin.
Sheer
If you see fashionistas on the streets in a state of undress, don't get your knickers in a twist. They are merely rocking the sheer look that is baring itself for spring.
Naturally, long-time brassiere lovers like Dolce & Gabbana (above, right), Christian Dior (main photo) and Jean Paul Gaultier are in on the action.
Also loving the lingerie look are Italian-English designer Antonio Berardi (left) with crystal embellished corsets, Fendi with peekaboo tulle shirts, and lace knits and tulle cardigans courtesy of Nina Ricci's new man, Peter Copping.
Most designers have phased out see-through looks since four seasons ago. While they are revisiting sheer appeal, this time it is in multiple layers of thin peekaboo fabrics so you don't feel naked.
Emerging designers like Tracey Reese and Sonia Rykiel presented very wearable options - opaque dresses are decorated with sheer sleeves, backs and overlays for a younger, fresher feel.
For those who dare to bare, go ahead and flaunt your La Perla knickers - there are still completely sheer options from Christian Dior and Valentino (centre).
Textured
With ruffles, feathers, fringes and draping, this is one new look to have and to hold.
The tactile textile trend certainly touched designers. Stella McCartney had swirls of ruffles framing vividly printed dresses.
Lanvin's (above, centre) trademark jewel-toned dresses received asymmetric makeovers with ruffled shoulder details.
Marc Jacobs showcased an interesting take, downplaying the saccharine side of feminine frills with ruffled double-breasted jackets and pinstripe sets.
Valentino (right) went theatrical with some serious ruffle drama.
Smothered in dense fringes or feathers were show-stoppers from Jason Wu, Dolce & Gabbana (left) and Giambatista Valli's evening-influenced collections.
Shapes dripped in drapes too, from casual collections like Twenty8Twelve to French stalwarts Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Most notably, Burberry Prorsum's dress collection was almost all of the drape variety.
Embellished
Get set to take a shine to sparkly garments. Designers reckon sequins and crystal embellishments are a bright idea, and not just for big nights.
The spring 2010 runways were positively gleaming, courtesy of sequinned camo-print jeans from Balmain (above, centre), Tory Burch's slouchy tees in paillettes - sequins' bigger cousins - and shimmery shorts that Richard Chai paired with flak jackets.
Crystals were also in the spotlight. Ellie Saab dazzled with zig-zagging crystal embroidery on a one-shoulder gown.
Giorgio Armani (right) adorned wide belts with floral swirls of crystals.
Dries Van Noten did pearl chokers with geometric pendants set with large semi-precious stones and crystals.
Prada, Miu Miu (left) and Lanvin smothered their frocks in embellishments. The first included silver and crystal-embroidered tops and showpieces strung together from chandelier components.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times .
