Best in Show

“How do you look both powerful and feminine? I wanted to explore that question.” —Tomas Maier, Bottega Veneta

“I wanted to make her look kind of glamorous, and a little cherubic at the same time. I hadn’t see Freja like that before. It’s an unusual way to do a look like that—prettier instead of boyish.” —Eugene Souleiman, hairdresser

“This look has been influenced by an Irving Penn picture representing someone from the streets wrapped in a poster with words. I used words and text from the work of Cindy Sherman and the French artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster.” —Nicolas Ghesquiere, Balenciaga

“It’s about simplicity and purism, but with a modern edge.” —Francisco Costa, Calvin Klein Collection

“It is all about sculpture; cashmere and wools molded in strong tailored lines to fit the contours of the body.” —Hakaan

“I’ve been working out a lot with Tracy Anderson. After I had my baby, I wanted to try something different.” —Karolina Kurkova, model

Click here to read more from the interview with Karolina Kurkova.

“Fall is the quintessential sportswear wardrobe—easy, sexy, streamlined and indulgent all at once.” —Michael Kors

“I like mixing styles: pièces de jour with eveningwear, shorts with coats, classically tailored double-breasted jackets and heavy knitwear with feminine Lurex blouses.” —Massimiliano Giornetti, Salvatore Ferragamo

“The sweater dress was beautiful and the whole look was really cool. I loved the pockets and the belt was great.” —Jenny Sinkaberg, model

“I love the combination of the sheer leopard pants with the unstructured, embroidered, fur-lined shearling coat. Layers, when done in a feminine and sophisticated way, can be extremely luxurious.” —Roberto Cavalli

“This fall I’m inspired by a woman who has a bohemian spirit. She’s a romantic at heart. She’s bold and artistic with a beauty that is timeless, enduring and always personal.” —Ralph Lauren

“It’s a very iconic silhouette of a woman: the bosom, the waist and the full skirt; heels of varying heights; bags of varying proportions; gloves. The collection is very proper and very beautiful.” —Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton

“I wanted to play with the perception of how people look at clothes. You have a typical men’s jacket that, just by putting pinches in the waist, you make very feminine. Combine that jacket with a wide skirt in a couture fabric and you get this conf ident, young, strong woman who still stays very elegant and feminine.” —Dries Van Noten

“The idea was to make a tunic that could be worn like a worker’s uniform. A complete outf it in one piece.” —Phoebe Philo, Celine

“I felt very safe and comfortable in the extravagant bearlike outfit. When I first saw it, my heart went out to the girl who walked in it for the show — she must have been sweating buckets!” —Andreea Diaconu, model

“A new, tailored sportswear: Garments with built-in protection from the elements, built-in protection of their own intrinsic luxury.” —Stefano Pilati, Yves Saint Laurent

“Fall 2010 explores the idea of sleepwalking—the idea of a dream state or in-between state…. We wanted [this dress] to look like a combination of a nightgown and a sweater.” —Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Rodarte

“The women’s show took aviation as its pivotal focus, but then it got much more decorative. There’s a lot of texture; there’s a lot of fabric manipulation. It’s a very detailed collection. I wanted the girls to feel protected with these big collars as well. It was sexy but not in a vulgar way.” —Christopher Bailey, Burberry

“One thing I’ve learned is to dress special, to dress interesting and to dress different from the others.” —Julija Step, model

“I was on exclusive with Prada and Miu Miu, so I was working with them every day…This coat was very familiar to me, and I have always loved the strength of the coat contrasted by the delicate fur on top. I like the ability it has to be versatile, to be able to wear it anywhere.” —Samantha Gradoville, model

“For this collection I was thinking what embodies chic now: a precise shoulder, the contrast of black and white, a skirt that f luidly encircles the body.” —Giorgio Armani

“Whilst not against the use of real fur, I wanted to explore some alternatives and give women some options. Fake fur is younger, cooler and edgier.” —Peter Copping, Nina Ricci

“The collection was a look back to the silhouettes and mood prevalent in fashion in the Seventies and Nineties. I felt liberated in a way to go back to these two periods that were so important for Gucci. It felt like the right moment to tap into that strong yet simple tailoring and that sleek glamour. There is nothing more seductive than the combination of superlight feathers and lace.” —Frida Giannini, Gucci

“This dress is shockingly beautiful. I loved the lace, the feathers, everything…I wouldn’t really have a place to wear this dress in [my hometown of] Omaha. The only time we ever get dressed up is to go to prom!” —Samantha Gradoville, model

“It’s a return to the basic shapes and colors; back to the essence of design…austerity and purity.” —Alber Elbaz, Lanvin

“This look is constructed like a fluid work of art. It made me feel sophisticated in an updated Breakfast At Tiffany’s kind of way. It was a nice change of character for me.” —Erin Wasson, model

“This was so much fun to wear. I definitely felt like a cop in the Lady Gaga video—strong, sexy and ironic.” —Bianca Balti, model

“There’s a lot of teasing inside this. We even put an afro wig in there to bulk it out. And then the exterior is fishtail-braided, so it was loose and soft. It’s Marie Antoinette meets the Bride of Frankenstein.” —Eugene Souleiman, hairdresser