Barbie turns 50 this year, and she hasn't aged a bit! As part of Mattel’s global birthday celebration fifty designers —Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Anna Sui, Rachel
Roy, and Brian Reyes, to name a few—created looks for the show. While some of the looks were pure fantasy like Bob Mackie’s incredible gold-beaded gown with feather trim, others could easily transcend the toy-store shelf to the city sidewalk.

Celebrity models walk the runway at the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection Fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Tent in Bryant Park on February 13, 2009 in New York City.

The debut of the Fall 2009 Collections is upon us. In the lead is Acne... OK, did the designer pick the grossest name he could think of to go with his weird, gloomy, and unflattering designs. Could you imagine Joan Rivers on the red carpet asking someone who they were wearing. "Acne, I'm wearing Acne." I will never understand fashion designers who go the 'artistic' route at the expense of actually seeing their designs worn by normal people on the streets in everyday life.  

Fall 2009 is the season of the jewelry collaboration. The 'It' jewelry bauble will replace the 'It' handbag. Breaking into the New York scene is Hervé Van der Straeten, whose geometric jewelry will gild Ruffian's collection (above). Most of the high end designers are teaming with a jewelry designer to create an 'It' bauble for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 collections. I have a problem with this as I don't like to wear heavy or large jewelry. The bracelet pictured above looks nice, but in my realistic, everyday life, it would get in the way. And you know all of the 'It' baubles are going to be big, in order to be noticeable. It's not like a handbag, that even if it's a little clutch, it's noticeable. I'm predicting an unpopular trend.

I don't know why exactly, but I have always liked a well made jump suit. And this cream colored one by Philip Lim suits my tastes. This 3.1 Phillip Lim Ruched silk jumpsuit is made from off white silk, a ruched bustier and sheer top panel. The way it flows looks so elegant and luxurious. This would be a fabulous look for a party by the pool, as well as an evening soiree. Available at Net a Porter, $850. 

Here are images from the Louis Vuitton tribute to Stephen Sprouse at the Louis Vuitton Masaryk store on February 4, 2009 in Mexico City, Mexico. This collection was inspired by the late American artist Stephen Sprouse, who was considered to be a pioneer of the punk and pop trend of the 1980s.

I'm not crazy about this Spruce collection, nor was I crazy about the original grafitti collection. I think it dumbs down the classic looking handbags.  

I can always count on a Maison Martin Margiela collection to have a beautiful design and many strange/ugly designs.  Maison Martin Margiela has a history of revolting against the luxurious fashion world with garments of over sized proportions such as long arms, and with linings, seams and hems on the outside. This concept of deconstruction is evident in every one of his collections, many of his pieces are clearly not meant to be worn, but are more categorized as 'art'. For example, Mr Margiela famously redesigns by hand objects such as old wigs, canvases and silk scarves into couture garments. So it's no surprise his collections contain the 'weird' and 'ugly', for consumers like myself who appreciate fashion that is meant to be worn and flatter the female form.

The model's face covered up is obviously unusual, but the vest is decent, although not particularly flattering.

This is ridiculous, and no sane person would ever wear this outside of a runway. It is designed from lots of small pieces of denim sewn together.

I like this look a lot, it's quite beautiful, however in the real world it would need a flowy semi -sheer or silk skirt.

This is hideous. It looks like a Moo Moo.

This is interesting. It could be very pretty with black silk pants

Italian designer Fausto Sarli debuted his absolutely gorgeous designs on the catwalk during the Rome Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 on January 31, 2009 in Rome, Italy. I had never heard of this designer, but his clothes are truly beautiful, and wearable - a hard feat to accomplish for many high end fashion designers.

The cut outs in these dresses are very sexy, but not over the top. They look classy, but have a touch of vixen. In both dresses the cut out sides can be covered by the attached cape (as you can see in the pic with the black dress).

LOVE IT! The jacket turns into a scarf on the left side. I haven't seen anything like this, have you? You can see what the back would look like from the model walking away, it's the same style.

Gorgeous.

Another one of his sleeve turns into scarf, but this time in a dress with a much lighter scarf. Scarves with bare arms is one of my favorite looks. I think it is the most beautiful way to emphasize the arm.

Love this look. It's so modern and sophisticated.

This is so fabulous I almost don't have the words. I would LOVE to have this in my closet. If this doesn't show up on the red carpet, every stylist in Hollywood should be fired.

Balenciaga debuts lots of fur in their Pre- Fall 2009 collection. From above the elbow gloves, scarves, vests and sweaters, the fur was flying. And no, it isn't faux.

While there were many gorgeous designs at the Spring 2009 Runway shows, the ones below stood out to me. Herve Ledger isn't about to give up his ever popular band aid design dress, it's such an all time success, why should he? But this season he did the classic design with only one cap sleeve and in descending colors, a fade from white to black. Armani stayed true to his sophisticated, classic and elegant designs, while Jasper Conran (a designer I had never heard of) impressed with simple, subtly sexy looks. My absolute favorites, however were the Balmain black dress with torn silver and net sleeves as well as the oh so elegant Reem Alcra silk robe dress.

Isabel Marant

Doo Ri

Elie Saab

Blumarine

DSquared2

Doo Ri

Andrew Gn

Jasper Conran

Matthew Williamson

Giorgio Armani

Project Runway Designers

Herve Leger

Balmain

Blumarine

Reem Acra