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Akris reinforces the idea that luxury can be simple. For Spring 2008, they featured sleek dresses and skirts that look luxe without being over the top. The sophisticated collection leaned on a tonal color palette of black, white, and grey with the occasional surprise of yellow or camel leather. The collection went with a perpendicular theme that included vertical color blocking and inlaid leather strips. A fluttery grey and yellow dress managed to bring out a hint of romanticism that the rest of the clothes may have been lacking.

Jean Paul Gaultier swagger jacked pirates with his collection of swashbuckling womenswear. The clothes made me think of girl pirates whose travels take them to foreign lands and the pick up a dress here, an ethnic scarf there, mix it all together and create an entirely new look. Smoking also played a large role in his runway show. Pirates toked from English pipes while bad girl brides took to the catwalk with a bouquet in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Maybe the brides are running off to marry the pirates. YAAARGH!

Do you adore Dior? If you do, Spring 2008 will see you in ‘30’s mobster suits, barely there lingerie, and…shoulder pads? Yes, several of Galliano’s feminine suits featured shoulder pads that sloped off at an almost ninety degree angle.

Some of the looks were a bit mature for my tastes, which may be Galliano playing to Dior’s grande dame base. The pink shell paired with an ankle-length silk skirt is a perfectly sophisticated evening look, but certainly not meant for the Galliano Girls in the audience. Even some of the lingerie seemed as if it came out of the closet of a cougar. I loved the leopard tap pants, who’s styling with bowler hats tipped over khol rimmed eyes gave it a Moulin Rouge feel, but I can pass on a black floor-skimming nightie that left too little to the imagination. There’s also a red Dior gown that I’m sure will show up on a red carpet somewhere. Most of all, I’m a fan of tailored looks and Galliano’s pinstripe suiting was spot-on.