alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet

alice + olivia's Fall 2012 Lolita-inspired collection puts the "fun" in party dressing, with full tulle skirts, sequins and metallics. Fall 2012 also marks the launch of the alice + olivia Gown collection, including an emerald green strapless peplum tiered gown, strapless black + white satin ribbon floor length gown, black sweetheart strapless gown with embellished bodice and sheer accordion pleating and black + nude lace long sleeve floor length gown with mermaid bottom and open back.

The collection also spotlights glamour with an edge, through intricate textures of boucle, leather, jacquard embroidery, brocades, tapestries and furs. The palette features bold jewel tones of rich emerald green, deep ruby red, midnight blue, lush plum, black + white color blocking, metallics and custom prints.

My favorite looks is the grey sequin puff bomber vest with fur collar, silver long sleeve sequin top and grey textured military cargo pant, with other key pieces including the cream + grey lace sleeveless top, black silk sheer tie-neck blouse and black patent leather shearling coat.

The swept-back, loose chignon is one of my favorite looks during fashion week, with hair styling by Anthony Cole for Sebastian Professional. Makeup focus was on the eyes and lips - dramatic cat eyes with a deep red lip by Sarah Lucerno for Stila Cosmetics.

alice + olivia footwear includes a pale gold metallic pump with ankle straps, red + pink patent print heel, pointed toe red patent heel with black suede colorblock, black satin pump with flower detail and Donnie lamb leather herringbone bootie.

- Kim Weling

Reem Acra Fall 2012

Left: Hunter green long-sleeved leather sheath dress with trapunto-stitch details

Right: Sunburst beaded leather bolero jacket over ebony top-stitched leather sheath dress

Reem Acra Fall 2012 is fierce with feminine power, shown through leather sheath dresses and pencil skirts and stunning red carpet- worthy embroidered, beaded and sequin gowns in silk chiffon and silk crepe and tulle. Metallics, sequins and lace are seen throughout the collection.

Ebony (black) and metallics dominate the collection, with geometric designs, peek-a-boo cutouts and bold, contrasting fabrics of lace, boucle and tweed.

My favorites include the beaded leather bolero jacket over top-stitched leather sheath dress, embroidered stretch silk chiffon legging, trapunto-stitched fitted leather jacket with peplum, three quarters sleeve beaded sheath dress and multi-sequin starburst v-neck gown.

Left: Ebony silk crepe duchess coat with embroidered sculpted sleeve over Chantilly lace mock turtleneck blouse and ebony embroidered stretch silk chiffon leggings

Right: Ebony trapunto-stitched fitted leather jacket with peplum and ebony 3-dimensional pinwheel embroidered skirt

Left: Ebony silk/wool long sleeved sheath dress with pocket details

Right: Ebony metallic herringbone fitted sheath dress with beaded sleeves

Left: Creme caramel three quarters sleeve beaded sheath dress

Right: Ebony geometric beaded dolman-sleeved dress

Left: Ebony and silver geometric beaded sheath dress

Right: Multi geometric embroidered gown with tulle inserts

Ebony silk crepe peek-a-boo gown

Left: Multi-sequin starburst v-neck gown

Right: Strapless golden silver embroidered gown

Ebony Diamond embroidered silk chiffon gown

Ebony Sunburst embroidered one-shoulder silk crepe and tulle gown

Photos by RUNWAYY.COM

- Kim Weling

2012 Oscar Hair Predictions From The Pros

Hollywood's "Night of Nights" is right around the corner, and while we don't know who will take home the oh-so-coveted Oscar Awards, we do know that all you beauty junkies out there will be mentally casting your vote for Oscar superlatives - who has the best dress, the best accessories and of course... who has the best hair?

Michelle Williams' wears color that complements her skin tone.

We spoke with the pros at Wella Professionals, the hair brand who has a very impressive roster of red carpet hair under their belt already from this season, including Madonna, Michelle Williams, Claire Danes, Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Emily Blunt and Shailene Woodley, to get the inside scoop on what hair looks will heat up the red carpet this Sunday.

Graceful Sheen
"We will see a peak in fluid textures and warm tones that suggest effortless elegance and healthy, shiny hair that shows a lot of movement and bounce," states Wella Professionals Color Ambassador Aura Friedman. "Expensive and Luxurious are words you could use to explain this look - maximize this effect by asking your colorist to use Wella Professionals Haircolor to give you a soft shade with warm undertones that will best complement your skin tone."

Jason Merrit/Getty Images

Aura recommends her A-list clientele use Wella Professionals Brilliance Shampoo and Conditioner, which is designed to seal in color while leaving locks irresistibly smooth to the touch.

"Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier is a red-carpet favorite," adds Celebrity Stylist Andy LeCompte, "that smoothes the hair surface so it can better prepare the hair for styling." Andy also uses Wella Professionals Shimmer Delight Shine Spray on his clientele to create the most sheen and expensive looking finish to any end look.

Angelic Side-Chignons
LeCompte predicts that celebs will lean toward classic styles with a play on texture and symmetry. "There will be a lot of deep side parts and loose ponys, bobs and chignons tied to the side." This style can be customized to accentuate any gown, face shape or hair accessory. "It also lessens the stuffiness of that prom feeling and adds a more up-to-date, laissez-faire feeling.

The options here are endless, but no matter the look, you can use Wella Professionals products to perfect the end look. Apply 3-5 pumps of Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier hair primer to create an even surface on each and every hair follicle before drying the hair, creating a foundation for the most luxurious looking end-look. To keep a style looking fresh yet modernly undone, use a light-hold hairspray such as Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray to hold the hair while keeping an overall sense of liquid movement.

The red carpet arrivals of the 84th Annual Academy Awards®, will be airing February 26th on NBC. Be sure to join Wella Professionals on Twitter and Facebook LIVE during the red carpet arrivals (between 4pm and 7pm EST), along with their special guest panel of hair pros Aura Friedman, Rick Wellman and Mark Garrison to get tips, tricks and commentary on the hair looks of the evening.

Can't wait till then? Visit the red carpet tab on Wella's Facebook page for tips and leave questions for their experts to answer.

Courtesy of Daily Makeover

Emilio Cavallini Fall/Winter 2012

Emilio Cavallini Fall 2012 presentation was held at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, cinema verité style. The collection features luxurious tights, bodysuits and thigh-highs that are chic, sexy and glamorous. Highlights include black floral lace and exaggerated fishnets, seamed sheers with "tattoo" motifs, "shredded" tights with matching skin-tight bandeaus, bold stripes and dots, animal print tights and coordinating tanks, plaid, chevron, houndstooth and argyle patters and Victorian floral and paisley pattern s on sheer tights and tanks.

"My collection took inspiration from 1950's pin-up model Bettie Page, but really explores the sexual expression and fantasies of ALL women, " says Emilio Cavallini."Bettie Page was the ultimate femme fatale, inciting the fantasies of men...and women...at a time when 'nice girls' wouldn't dare to look like that...or act like that."

The presentation concluded with a short film entitled "“Risqué Business at the Florence Excelsior Hotel”, with a free-spirited woman vacationing in France. The woman tries on pair after pair of tights and bodywear in her hotel room, after shopping at the Emilio Cavallini boutique. Here we see how sexy and alluring the legwear collection really is. My favorite look is the lace catsuit the woman wears as she leaves the room.

The presentation really drew me in, as the short film added drama and mystery while showing off the quality and uniqueness of the legwear and bodywear. It was a refreshing change from all the runway shows. You can view the video and all the looks from the presentation at emiliocavallini.com.

The Fall/Winter hosiery will retail from $27-$45 and bodywear from $98-$118.

Images courtesy of emiliocavallini.com

- Kim Weling

Rachel Comey Fall 2012

Indie crowd favorite Rachel Comey threw her fans for a loop this Fashion Week when she unveiled a fall collection of elegant, streamlined looks in a sophisticated palette of black, white and gray. Gone were the geek chic ensembles cut from vintage-inspired fabrics of Comey's past collections; in their place, we saw solid knits, blazers, dresses and trousers in sleek, ladylike silhouettes. Despite a predominantly simple color palette, Comey infused the line with texture and modernity through an abundance of laser-cut cotton, wax-dipped felt, and complex lace patterns.

The show was not totally devoid of print; a few models strut the runway in slightly more characteristically Comey printed dresses and blouses, yet in a far more grown up feel than we've seen from her. My favorite touches of Comey's collection? A very Audrey Hepburn-esque black wool coat with leather bodice, a fresh breath of color from an electrifying persimmon-hued coat, and the dainty dotted socks that adorned the models' feet. It was a collection that came off the beaten path for Comey, but one that seems to have paved the way for more sartorial excellence to come!

Images courtesy of nymag.com

- Stephanie Wu

Carlos Miele Fall / Winter 2012

Left: Black crepe bolero with tarnished gold metal embellishment, chartreuse geometric print silk charmeuse dress with pleated detail

Right: Black crepe Amazona jacket, black rustic leather belt with metal grommets and coin applique, black and white geometric sequin pencil skirt

Carlos Miele Fall / Winter 2012 centers around the women from Rio Grande do Sul and culture of Southern Brazil. His geometric prints are inspired by the patterns of traditional gaucho sashes and ponchos, while the organic print references the native feline, gato dos pampas. The rich natural landscape is seen through gold and natural tones.

The collection features sleek silhouettes that highlight the female form. Miele creates refined volumes and textures handicraft techniques such as woven tiras, metal embroidery and overlays of different fabrics.

I always find Carlos Miele's dresses to be sexy and carefree, while exuding a natural elegance in vibrant, eye-catching prints. My favorites included the silk charmeuse geometric print dress and gown in fuchsia and the pampa print silk chiffon gowns. The looks were paired with nude and black open toe booties with leather tiras and metal edged fringe.

Hair looks from this show, styled by Rodney Cutler for the Salon at Ulta Beauty, are my favorite of all the shows I've attended. The look is effortless and simple with natural waves and curls. The shiny and smooth, silky texture represents hair I would want everyday.

Pampa print dress in silk charmeuse with draped tiras detail

Left: Sand silk charmeuse gown with wide woven tiras and iridescent insets

Right: Black silk charmeuse and lamé gown with woven tiras bodice and cap sleeves

Left: Fuchsia geometric print dress in silk charmeuse with pleated detail and gold lamé insets

Right: Fuchsia geometric print gown in silk charmeuse with pleated detail, fuchsia geometric print silk chiffon long sleeve top

Left: Pampa print silk chiffon gown with beaded shoulder detail, black leather belt with grommets and laced tiras detail

Right: Pampa print gown in silk chiffon with white silk charmeuse underlay

Photos by RUNWAYY.COM

- Kim Weling