On September 13, I attended the Monique Lhuillier Spring Summer 2011 runway show at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Inspired by a dream she had of a modern-day Garden of Eden, Lhuillier created a sartorial garden of cocktail dresses and gorgeous floor-length gowns rendered in a feminine palette of soft blues, greens, pinks, and whites which were punctuated by breathtaking apple red pieces. Subtle reptile print chiffons and floral brocades continued the garden theme as did gold paillettes and embroidery that looked like shimmering dew. Naturally I loved the ball gowns which were chic, romantic and fanciful, perfect for the red carpet (not that I have any red carpets to dress up for, but it's fun to dream). Celebrities in attendance included Alexis Bledel, Emma Roberts and Olivia Palermo. The crowd collaboratively swooned and clapped in approval when the show ended.

Click through for more photos.

These Antik Batik "Squaw Spartiates" gladiator sandals feature seed bead embellishing that's fanciful and unique. Splurge on this foot candy for $205 at Net-A-Porter.


The Blowfish "Lawless" gladiator sandal delivers the same bright beading and hot strappy style for a lot less. Save on this multicolored gladiator at Macy's, where it was originally $69 and is now on sale for $50.99.

Remember back in June when we first reported Vera Wang was creating a masstige line for Kohl's? (If you missed it, check out the post here.) Guess what: the magazine ad campaign for Simply Vera starts this week, and that means more pics—more glorious, stunning photographs of Ms. Wang's moderately priced designs!

Okay, so we're excited. Really excited. Why the newfound enthusiasm for Simply Vera, you ask? (The line whose original name was "Very Vera" is under fire from textile designer Vera Neumann for trademark infringement according to Page Six.) For one, it's August (we can't believe summer's almost over either), and as the warm season winds down, what else do we have to look forward to besides fall fashion?

For another, the ads are fanciful, fun and really showcase the clothes in a manner we haven't seen before. We love the color palette and we're fond of the leggings (an iffy article of trendy clothing which we have just recently vowed to incorporate into our fall wardrobe, the 80s be damned.)

We've also heard more details about the delightful prices, which range from $128 for a double-breasted black car coat, to high-heeled Mary Jane shoes for $70, to opaque black tights at $12. That's way less than her Lavender line, and remember: Kohl's always has sales.

So mark your calendars—the magic begins on Sept. 9 when the collection hits stores, the "Wizard of Oz"-themed TV ads begin airing and a dedicated website launches via www.kohls.com.

Click on the pics and let us know if you're just as pumped!