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Vera Wang

• Fashion 411: Poise. Grace. Elegance. Those are the words for Wang's spring collection and the designer herself, who went on with her show despite the death of her father earlier in the day. Wang said she was "exploring the emotionally charged space of the geisha's wardrobe and the ballerina's rehearsal layers" in her light, delicate collection.

PAUL HAWTHORNE/Associated Press (ENLARGE)
Zac Posen
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• Winning look: A lamé negligee gown with oversized embellished pockets, worn over a nude tulle T-shirt, was like liquid gold, while a whisper-light blush crinkled chiffon dress with an open back was — in a word — stunning.

• Celeb citings:Actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar and Emmy Rossum, singer Thalia and recording exec Tommy Mottola.

Zac Posen

• Fashion 411: Posen, the fashion world's newest prodigy, presented a collection of ladylike blouses, skirts and dresses that he said were inspired by "the refined aesthetic and vibrant eccentricity of Japanese design," along with the allure of Esther Williams' underwater world. An ivory silk scallop dress with an open back featured in the early part of the show was elegant, and an organza blouse with layered sleeves, worn with a gray wool trouser, was a different take on the layering trend that the fashion crowd has seen so much of over the past seven days. Posen, 25, also is drawn to drama, however impractical — or unwearable — it might be. His finale dress was a gold and silver strapless showpiece that was so heavy and wide, the model had trouble navigating the runway. That made it hard to appreciate the hard work that surely went into it.

• Winning look: An aqua-colored fringe dress was an obvious interpretation of the Williams theme but it was also playful, youthful and cute.

• Celeb citings: This year's roster included Eve, Kanye West, Kate Bosworth and Sandra Bernhard.

Badgley Mischka

• Fashion 411: Even when they use a restrained hand, Mark Badgley and James Mischka turn out glamorous gowns. For spring, they didn't use as many of the beads, crystals and other embellishments that have become their signature, but the dresses were unmistakably theirs, much to the delight of the jet-setters in the front row who gave the designers a standing ovation.

• Winning look: Recently the designers have tried to court younger customers. For them, they offered a short ivory organza dress with subtle horizontal rows of beads and a cocktail dress made of black-and-white chiffon and taffeta cut into vertical zigzag lines.

• Celeb citing: Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known as Dawn on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."