While she was by no means the first to sport this now iconic 'do, model and Alexander Wang muse Alice Dellal was rocking the half-shave long before a number of celebrities followed suit. Dellal's hairstyle, which is mirrored by Nick Cave's model son Jethro Cave, has since been adopted by the likes of musicians Ciara and Rihanna. There's also something about the asymmetric style that reminds us of Kate Gosselin's famous assymetrically cropped cut, which has been dubbed "The New Rachel" and has been making waves throughout middle America.
Samir Hussein / Getty Images; Nick Harvey, WireImage / Getty Images
The party-in-the-front, business-in-the-back theme seen in the aforementioned celebrity hairstyles is echoed in fall's wardrobe essentials. At Nina Ricci Fall 09, where wunderkind Olivier Theyskens showed his last collection for the fashion house, breathtakingly beautiful gowns were marked by exceedingly high hemlines in the front and trailing, train-like lengths in the back. Phillip Lim 3.1's Fall collection included a less dramatic take on the same trend with a band jacket that opened the show.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images; Michel Euler / AP Photo
One of the most controversial clothing items set to hit stores this fall is none other than a lowly bike short, albeit one that costs $395. The brainchild of Alexander Wang, the price tag attached to these luxe bike shorts have been causing double-takes ever since they hit Wang's fall runway. Granted, when you see the shorts in person there's a fair bit more detail and fabric than your average Spandex. Although, much like the rubber fishing boots (essentially a Wellie alternative) that showed up on Prada's Fall runway, the concept of cycling shorts and all-purpose rubber boots as high-fashion is more than enough to leave one feeling confused.
Chris Moore, Catwalking / Getty Images (2)
One-shouldered cocktail dresses and gowns were prevalent on catwalks for fall and have since shown up on quite a few red carpets. But some designers pushed fashion's asymmetric tendencies even farther, creating what appeared to be complete looks that had then been relieved of a sleeve. Dresses that were otherwise straightforward save for leaving a single arm bare surfaced on the runways of both Givenchy and Calvin Klein.
Fernanda Calfat / Getty Images; Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images
Menswear has been heavily influencing women's fashion trends these past few seasons (think: pantsuits, boyfriend blazers and even Yves Saint Laurent's Unisex line launched earlier this year). But Jean Paul Gaultier pushed the gender-bending even further with his fall ad campaign, which features mannequin Raquel Zimmerman playing both man and woman. Aside from the obviously androgynous aesthetic, the series of ad images can't help but suggest a feeling of division. Meanwhile, men in womenswear has become a men's fashion magazine theme: take for instance the August cover of Germany's Qvest, and an upcoming issue of France's Purple Fashion as shot by Karl Lagerfeld.
Jean Paul Gaultier
If one silhouette is ubiquitous for fall it's that of the over-size '80s shoulder. However, on quite a few runways — namely Balmain and Marc Jacobs — the throwback was presented in a futuristic manner more in sync with something out of Blade Runner than 9 to 5. Put simply, the impulse seems to reflect a simultaneous desire to look back to earier times as well as to try and see ahead of today's suffering ecomonic climate.
Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images; Kristian Dowling / Getty Images
This trend has been taking shape for some time, but it's nary seemed as out-of-place at it did on fall runways. At the likes of Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga bras were worn exposed, with solely open blazers sported over them. Not exactly the smartest choice for the coldest season of the year.
Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images; Catwalking / Getty Images
Underwear isn't the only clothing item suffering from a bit of an identity crisis this fall. Boots are too. Taking cues from Yves Saint Laurent's much-coveted spring 09 cage boots, fall footwear more often than not seems to be forgetting something... like some of its material. Perforations and large cut-outs grace a number of fall's most-popular boots. Chloe Sevigny's designs for Opening Ceremony have spawned much fanfare, while Fendi's Fall 09 cut-out boots caused a significantly more mixed reaction. Also joining the ranks of designers supporting aerated footwear: Jean Paul Gaultier whose limited edition custom pairs of Dr. Martens, which debut later this fall, feature diamond-shaped cut-outs a plenty.
Bryan Bedder / Getty Images; Antonio Calanni / AP Photo
Seasonal dressing has been making its way out for some time, but, climate change aside, shorts don't exactly seem to make much sense for winter. But, there they were on fall runways from Proenza Schouler to Emporio Armani. While in some cases, as with the former, shorts were paired with thick, knit tights helping them translate to colder climates, in other instances shorts were seen on the catwalk with nothing underneath. Not exactly a smart style move unless you inhabit a city where December temperatures never drop below 60.
Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images; Luca Bruno / AP Photo
