The multicultural inspiration was clear in the Thakoon Spring 2012 show, with looks ranging from Western-style shirts worn with two-toned cowboy hats to metallic saris.

Recurring images included bright colors such as turquoise, orange, and gold. In addition, metallic and lace embellished everything from cropped trousers to peplum jumpsuits. Each model sported either blue or pink hair, adding to the show’s vivid and busy atmosphere. Though the collection may seem intense at first, there were many wearable and on-trend pieces such as the show’s opening look, a turquoise blazer embellished with orange Guipure lace paired with a soft turquoise skirt. The show brought Thakoon’s trademark energy and vivacity without sacrificing accessibility.

Prabal Gurung’s Spring 2012 show was all about contrast mainly between the two major trends of fetish- and athletic-inspired clothes. A good example is the pairing of mesh and corsetry. Black, white, and violet were the main show colors, shown in a range of cutout dresses, tailored blazers, and elaborately printed dresses and pants. Despite the bright colors and unusual texture, Gurung’s use of minimalistic silhouettes made many of the pieces seem surprisingly wearable. A particular standout was a beige dress covered in beaded black chiffon that, though not as intense as other pieces, illustrated Gurung’s bold vision and capability.

Alexander Wang’s opening look for his Spring 2012 show was a oversized navy mesh sweater, and the show’s athletic, tomboyish theme continued from there. The collection’s inspiration was clear, with some models carrying motocross helmets in coordinating prints and others wearing chevron-patterned sweaters reminiscent of Nascar uniforms. Mixing slouchy, sporty silhouettes and body-hugging dresses, the collection was young and urban, and exemplified Wang’s youthful confidence and effortless sophistication. Many of the pieces, including the fish-scale shoes and golf-bag-inspired bags, seemed entirely wearable and stylish.