The must-see runway shows at New York Fashion Week

With the Autumn/Winter 2012 season debuting at New York, the pressure in the Big Apple is on. With a packed schedule, we’ve picked the best shows to give you a heads up this season.

Not to be missed is Hervé Léger by Max Azria. Since re-launching the Hervé Léger label with his own designs in 2007, Max draws on the modern notion of femme fatale, re-interpreting the iconic “bandage dress”. This signature design creates a seamlessly sculpted female silhouette for an unforgettable statement. With a stylish A-list following, including Kate Hudson, Diane Kruger, Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Kate Bosworth, Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz and Blake Lively, we’ve got our eyes pealed on the front row.

And talking of femme fatale, this brings us to designer Diane Von Furstenberg. A distinct voice in women’s fashion having created the iconic wrap dress in 1972, Diane is very much committed to the empowerment of women and has even established The DVF Awards to honor women who have displayed leadership, strength and courage. A symbol of female power and freedom, Diane re-launched the wrap dress in 1997 and it’s now very much at the core of her collections.

Also, top of the New York Fashion Week show edit is Calvin Klein. Defined by clean silhouettes, sharp lines and elegant shapes in monotone colours, the US fashion house is creatively directed by Francisco Costa. Awarded  Fashion Designer of the year in 2009, Francisco previously worked at luxury houses Gucci, Balmain Couture, and Oscar de la Renta, before joining Calvin Klein in the Spring of 2004. Pushing the boundaries of innovation and design, we look forward to seeing what this talented Creative Women’s Director has in store this season.

And last but not least, no New York Fashion Week is complete without leading American designer, Ralph Lauren. Having managed to cultivate America’s whole iconography into fashion, embodying everything from Native American culture, to the New England coast and Hollywood glamour, Ralph Lauren’s collections represent the best in traditional American design. Ralph’s timeless pieces have been exemplified by understated sophistication and the utmost attention to detail. Presenting a luxe day to night feminine collection with sharp pin stripe tailoring for Spring/Summer 2012, we anticipate another strong preppy chic collection for Autumn/Winter 2012 from this global cultural icon.