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Lindsey Wixson walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Lindsey Wixson walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for Mercede
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for Mercede
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Morgan Curtis, Musician Alexa Ray Joel, TV personality Olivia Munn, actress Mena Suvari, and photographer Nigel Barker attend the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Linco
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Morgan Curtis, designer Tinsley Mortimer, designer Jill Stuart, and actress Mena Suvari pose backstage at the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on Februar
Photo credit: Getty Images
We caught up with Nigel Barker before the Jill Stuart Fall 2011 runway show started, he shared his thoughts on trends he's seen so far this week.
"A little bit more conservative, a little more tailored. Metallics are still quite heavy, but they are muted down and not as brazen and not as in your face as much," he recounted in his dreamy British accent. "Kind of a more serious take, which at the same time, very elegant." Heavens, it was as if he could see into the future and was describing what was about to happen on the Jill Stuart runway.
Moments later, models, including Lindsey Wixson, styled in shiny straight blow-outs parted in the middle, smokey eyes and coral-stained lips, perfectly channeled the Love Story-era Ali McGraw-meets-the original Charlie's Angels inspiration for the collection. The looks were full of 70's-era hues like maize, burnt sienna, peacock blue and forest green, mostly mixed into patterns like abstract swirls (featuring owl or fox animal motifs) or paneled color blocks. A few ensembles also featured wide-tie scarf accents that we could totally picture on a post-millennial version of Kelly Garrett.
The designer artfully mixed textures, too, such as a burnt sienna sleeveless leather dress with pleated suede skirting. The use of pleats was quite prevalent, especially, in beautifully modern scallop paneled silk chiffon dresses and long sleeve color block day dresses.
Accessories wise, we noted a nod to chic utilitarianism. There were a couple leather updates on the fanny back (we'd wear it — look, no hands!), fingerless gloves that feature an exposed thumb (a very important, yet oft neglected detail — a cloaked thumb is an irritating obstacle to iPhone text) and a chunky knit scarf with a deep pocket at each end.
Nigel Barker's aforementioned un-brazen metallics made an appearance toward the end of the show in the form of delicate pleated dress panels and finally on an elegant, yet modern cocktail frock with golden-yellow silk detail.
Speaking of the America's Next Top Model judge, he was sitting pretty in the front row next to celebrities Mena Suvari, Olivia Munn (who everybody wanted a piece of and we think that's pretty cool) and Alexa Ray Joel. Further down the row was the seemingly-ubiquitous Tinsley Mortimer and stylist Brad Goreski. · All Fashion Week Coverage [Racked] · Jill Stuart [Official Site]