The Academy of Art University Fall ’12 Fashion Show was featured in Women’s Wear Daily!! Monday’s issue included a write up of the collections, and two gorgeous photos – one from Xiang Zhang’s collection, and one from Jeanette Au’s. Here are few highlights from the review!

China’s Wu Di started out on a high note with her geometric-inspired collection that featured angular silhouettes in cashmere knits and wool.

Another standout was Xiang Zhang, who opted for different looks all show over white shirting: on one great look, it peeked out from a taupe silk mohair dress layered under a collarless silk cashmere and wool coat.

The collection from Jeanette Au, a Michigan native, was the most inventive. Inspired by the Ballet Russes and Leon Bakst paintings, she delivered a colorful, textural display of mohair and metallic knits with intricate 3-D patterns.

For more from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, click here.

House of 950. L-R: Alice Spies, Lauren Haut, Eric Holbreich, and Julien Charrier.

On Saturday, February 11th the House of 950 gave an innovative presentation at the Cue Art Foundation gallery in New York during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The House of 950 consists of a group of artists, three of which are designers: Eric Holbreich, Alice Spies and Lauren Haut, who attended Academy of Art University, and Julien Charrier. This wasn’t your typical runway show – instead, you were invited into the House of 950 as a guest.

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Here’s a closer look at the hair and make-up from the Academy of Art University Fall ’12 Fashion Show! Our fabulous team from Aveda helped bring the beautiful vision to life. Make-up artists created a subtly smokey eye with soft brown and plum shadows and black liner, finishing the look with a few coats of mascara. And – though the eyes looked gorgeous – the lips truly stole the show. First, a layer of fuschia lipstick was applied, and then topped with an even brighter coat of gloss. And when we say gloss, we mean super gloss – this stuff was practically shellac.  The bright lips added the perfect pop of color on the runway.

The hair had a definite ’60s feel. Stylists back-combed the models’ hair to create volume at the crown, and then slicked it back. The ends were tied and tucked under, creating a soft, rounded edge. The whole look was amazing and the girls looked so gorgeous – guess that’s why they’re models!

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Photos Courtesy of ImaxTree.

On Thursday, February 9th, men’s wear designers Daniel Silver and Steven Cox debuted the Duckie Brown Fall ’12 Collection at Industria Studios in NYC. The collection featured baggy separates in a variety of plaids and tweeds, layered one on top of the other, perfect for the cold winter months. Cozy fair isle sweaters and knit hats and gloves completed the look. They closed the show with several all-black looks, perfect for the gentlemen whose sense of style is a bit more subversive.

Members of Beyond the Front Row worked as dressers for the second season in a row. Follow the jump for some behind the scenes photos they snapped backstage and a short documentary following the designers! See more…

Photo Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

On Friday, February 10th, nine designers showed their collections during the Academy of Art University Fall ’12 Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In case you weren’t there or missed the livestream video – here is a quick recap of what you missed.

Wu Di, Amy Bond, Xiang Zhang, Deanna Pei- Ju Lo, Donghyuk Dan Kim, Farida Khan, Kate Y. K. Lee, Jeanette Au and Jade Juanyu Liu all sent their collection down the runway for a packed house in the Theatre at Lincoln Center. All of their hard work finally paid off. The show was energetic, , showed wide variations of style and was a complete success.

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Photos Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Jade Juanyu Liu was inspired by the French collage artist Damien Blottiere, known for his unique layering technique that creates shadows and empty space. She layered several fabrics, including wool, jersey and fur, to achieve the same effect.

Photos Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Jeanette Au was inspired by Sergei Diagliav’s Ballet Russe and the paintings of Leon Bakst, both of which influenced the texture, patterns, and color palette of the collection. She incorporated mohair, wool, synthetic yarns, and metallic threads into her knit fabrics.

Photos Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Kate Y. K. Lee was inspired by the sculptural elements of architecture and features rounded silhouettes, offset by defined lines and sharp, angled seams. She constructed the garments using leather, wool knits, lightweight wool, and silk charmeuse.

Photos Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Farida Khan was inspired by the idea of unconventional beauty, creating unique fabrics and silhouettes. She constructed bold silhouettes using wool, cotton, coated denim, polyurethane, and punched leather.

Photos Courtesy of Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Donghyuk Dan Kim looked to vintage military uniforms and clothing from the American West for inspiration. He constructed his garments using wool, cotton, and leather in shades of olive green and dark brown.

For more from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall ’12, click here.