Like elegant swans, the models practically floated above the runway to the ever-so-fitting music, Ravel’s Bolero. Chado Ralph Rucci’s Spring 2012 runway show can be described only as visually breathtaking.

Held at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher’s Hall, Made in Africa: Arise showcased Africa’s most talented designers. The show was spectacularly large, milking every bit of production value the venue had to offer.

During Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Agenda Magazine made its way backstage before the show. I was able to interview the key hair and makeup people, plus I got a bonus when top model Cecily Lopez spoke with me candidly about her career.

Octavio Carlin showcased an elegant yet simplistic collection during Style Fashion Week LA at Vibiana. He presented a collection that showed a variation on cocktail dresses consisting of jersey, slinky, hip hugging skirts with horizontal striped tops . . . a play on the athletic influenced trend for spring.

Furne One’s Spring 2012 collection made its way un-chaperoned to Los Angeles at Vibiana during Style Fashion Week LA. That’s right. The designer was home in Dubai while his collection received mixed reviews here. The collection left some raving and others ranting; and some of those rants turned into raised voices literally on the media riser.

Rear projected cinematic, interchanging backgrounds of nature and the outdoors created the scene for the Gypsy 05 2012 collection at Vibiana during Style Fashion Week LA. The fashion show opened with eclectic music and ritualistic choreography in the form of modern dance: our dancer’s face had white war paint, and she wore a loose fitting tunic. She put on a convincing performance and set the bohemian stage for what was to become a very enjoyable runway experience.

Coming back from a hiatus, Gen Art is better than ever with their Fresh New Faces competition. From the attention to details backstage, with dressing, styling, and presenting the models and clothes on the runway to really putting on an exciting and well produced series of runway shows, Gen Art did it well at Vibiana during Style Fashion Week LA. Avatar star Zoe Saldana opened the show and the talented young designers showcased their new designs.

The show finally started with designer Ross Higgins. He was the first out of the gate. He trotted as if on the drug ecstasy, and that, folks, set the precedent for what followed—a parade of models, each more frightful than his or her predecessor. Caligula had nothing on this design team!

Always a fun, high-energy show, Betsey Johnson did it again for her Spring 2012 collection during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York. Models styled to the nines with extreme attention paid to the tiniest detail. Check out all the backstage excitement before the show on September 12, 2011, at the Theater in Lincoln Center. Photographed by Arun Nevader.

Got a man in your life 6’3 and up? The Willis and Walker Spring 2012 collection is perfect for the really tall, dark, and handsome. The biggest problem with fitting a tall man is finding something ready-to-wear without a tailor having to alter the sleeves or stitching in the hem of the pants.