Tadashi Shoji said he wanted the girls to look angelic, like they’re going to take flight. Take flight they did in his Fall/Winter 2011 presentation at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The show was a stunning spectacle to say the least.

Known for his feminine silhouettes and clean lines that often grace red carpets (Julie Bowen’s nude dress at the Golden Globes was a favorite), Shoji wowed the crowd with his elegant collection inspired by the gardens of the far east. Drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature, “the art of birds dancing, branches intertwining, rock formation and light reflecting in water”, Shoji brings the stage to life, evoking a sense of serenity and purity.

The presentation began on a soft and demure note, showing one-shouldered draped cocktail dresses, incredibly classy feathered skirts, feather-accented shoulders and collarbones and feather-like lace tiers that continued the aviary theme. Each piece was made with a simplicity that compliments the female form.

The colors were absolutely gorgeous ranging from muted neutrals and earth tones like black, cream, gray and olive then progressing into evening wear. Exuberant jewel-toned, long floor-lenghth gowns graced the runway. Bursts of yellow, deep purple, magenta, navy and rich shades of floral and emerald green glided in formation.

Even with bolder jewel tones that would be at home on a parrot the entire line exuded a tranquil and peaceful aesthetic through fabrics like silk crepe, silk organza and chiffon mixed with delicate lace. The material created beautiful movement throughout the collection. Intricate rouching, draping, feathers, rosettes and floral appliques added a touch of elegance.

Overall the collection was very visually appealing and well-rounded, offering every type of dress from lace to strapless, to asymmetrical and flowing. The palates and accents were incredible and each piece appeared to be worn effortlessly, mirroring the collection’s overall ease of wear. We were really impressed with Shoji’s ability to seize the runway with such captivating colors, fabrics and fit. The attention to female form in such a vibrant and sophisticated way, while maintaining a fun and youthful energy, is what stands out most in his work. This collection is one that will please everyone from fashion editors and celebrities to the every day consumer.

Shopping at Forever 21 has always been a budget-friendly endeavor, and the new collection will not deviate from the fashion-forward (often drawing the ire of designers who feel the store’s designs aren’t original enough) and reasonably priced apparel and accessories.

Lichtenberg has been styled big name celebrities like Lady Gaga, and explains how this venture is a positive one for the Forever 21 shopper and his own career saying, “It is going to be for the customer that is younger and has seen my work on celebrities and musicians, but doesnâ€t have the money to plunk down for my main line. This is definitely going to be a great opportunity to be on a more global scale.” {College Fashion}

This collaboration is just the beginning of a series of collaborations that the brand is planning to embark on to offer more upscale merchandise at their signature low prices.  It seems as though the brand is taking cues from competing stores like H&M and Target who have had numerous designers (think Madonna, Roberto Cavalli, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Proenza Schouler) launch capsule collections for their brands in the past.

With over 50 copyright infringement lawsuits under their belt for drawing a little too much ‘inspiration’ from names like Anthropologie, Anna Sui and Diane Von Furstenberg, it’s seems like a smart idea for Forever 21 to bring in their own designers to catch consumer attention instead of copying others. {the Cut}

Italian designer (and former architecture-trainee) Alberto Marani is rethinking the word “ethnic” in terms of fashion inspiration, choosing to forgo the tendency to lump all “different” cultures together into a muddled mess of commodified exoticism.

The re-launch collection for his main Marani line is inspired by photographer Pieter Hugo’s work in documenting hyena tamers in Nigeria; we find this extreme specificity to be so refreshing amid an industry where “ethnic” and “tribal” are buzzwords that don’t seem to mean anything anymore.

We love the movement of the tassels and think it’s absolutely genius how the incredibly strong, almost masculine skirts are paired with simple, beautifully drapey shirts for an extraordinarily contemporary feel.  There is a definite primitive look to the collection, but there are none of the trite gimmicks (generic embroidery, etc.) we’re used to.

Read the full story {Style Bubble}