New York

Starting from the smoke billowing from the red-lacquered doors to the runway, Jason Wu’s Fall/Winter 2012 was full of modernized, sleek, Chinese iconography. He took his cues from China’s Mao collars, slinky cheongsams, military jackets, and flower prints to create richly tailored wearables that would still appeal to his most famous client, Michelle Obama. I love the strength and context added by the reinforced piping up and down skirt and coat seams. In the interest of furthering U.S/China relations, here’s to seeing Michelle wear one of these outfits a future Obama-Hu meeting.

Photos: Style.com

Photos: Style.com

Herve Leger = body-conscious bandage dresses. There’s no two ways about it. But for Fall/Winter 2012, designer Max Azria took it one step further and brought a seriously sexy, warrior-equestrian vibe to his lady.

The horizontal bandaging was sleeker this season, spliced into thinner strips that criss-crossed across the ribs and torso like skeletal armor. The highlight of the show were his made-to-measure leather bondage harnesses that fit so closely over the body you couldn’t tell where the dress and harness began. The harnesses went over the shoulder and cinched around the waist. I spied strict instructions back-stage for model fitters informing them, “DO NOT ADJUST BUCKLES” under any circumstances.

While there were some silhouette variations with A-Line and a wide sweeping, pleated finale gown, Leger kept most of his designs figure-hugging enough to please any starlet.  He kept to a popular color palette for Fall, with lots of maroon, taupe, and black, adding some metallic chain prints and threads of glimmer. Long, brushed ponytails and gladiator sandals finished the look. What are your thoughts–would you buy a bandage dress + a harness?

Photos: Style.com

Cupcakes, I just can’t seem to quit you. Last night, I chose them over Fashion Week by going to the NYC grand opening party of Georgetown Cupcake.  Putting their own twist on the adage, “If you make it in NYC, you can make it anywhere,” sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne of Georgetown Cupcake say, “If you can bake it here, you can bake it anywhere.” Throwing their hat into the crowded ring of cupcakeries, the duo and Kardashian favorite are opening their first store in SoHo (official opening day: Saturday, February 11th.)  Despite already being open for three plus years, block-long lines are still a mainstay at their already existing locations. When I visited their Georgetown outpost last week, I waited in line for 30 minutes and the tourist behind me asked, “Are the cupcakes worth it?”

Judging by the shoulder-to-shoulder crush of ladies and pink tutu-adorned girls (who sipped milk out of champagne glasses) at last night’s opening party, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” Even when stacked against NYC favorites (Sprinkles, Billy’s Bakery, Sugar Sweet Sunshine), Georgetown Cupcake bring a little something different to the table. Georgetown Cupcakes are a little richer and decadent then their NYC cousins, with a focus on high-end ingredients (example: the specified usage of Valrhona, Callebaut chocolate and madagascar bourbon for flavoring.) Their everyday menu contains not just one, but three varieties of chocolate cupcakes  with a choice of either ganache, whipped, or vanilla frosting.  They also mix it up every month with an ever-changing variety of seasonal cupcakes. Snacking from amongst the minis offered at last night’s shindig, my favorites are the densely flavored Peanut Butter Fudge, salty and sweet Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Birthday Cake. Their heart-bedecked Red Velvet cupcakes are a perennial favorite for Valentine’s Day and many a DC bride. And yes, they deliver all over the U.S.

The sisters generously gave each party guest a half-dozen NYC customized cupcakes (pictured above) and a cookbook full of recipes I can’t wait to try out/create a fire in my kitchen. Georgetown Cupcakes are located at 111 Mercer Street (between Prince and Spring.) You can also catch a behind-the-scenes look with their show, DC Cupcakes, airing on TLC Fridays at 10 PM EST.