The spring ’12 shows were, in a word, comfortable. The trends might not have been groundbreaking, and the looks might not have been revolutionary, but—oh, boy—did I want it all!!  The runways read like a synopsis of all my greatest hits: preppy staples, tomboyish sensibilities, vintage inspirations, and loads of colors and prints… If you didn’t have the opportunity to sit front row at all the shows, it’s no sweat. I’ve hashed out the top 10 trends from spring ’12 NYFW that I’m going to start experimenting with, stat!

Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 was the swan song to this season’s New York Fashion Week — and even though the designer’s collection is always one of the most anticipated of the season, this time around the buzz surrounding it felt a bit more frenzied. Maybe it was the Irene-induced time slot switch-around, or the swirling rumours regarding Jacobs possibly leaving Vuitton for Dior — or maybe it was the fact that three hours before the show was to start, the designer canceled all backstage press access. Not a photo texted, not a beauty look revealed. The only pre-show peeps were from the models, who tweeted that it was eerily calm backstage without the usual circus of media.

 And so it was that the show started —  30 minutes late, breaking its seasons-long punctuality record. On a wood-planked runway, gold-lamé curtains parted, revealing a theatrical tableau of rainbow-lit models posed on high-backed chairs. One by one, each girl marched down the runway to a Phillip Glass counting and chanting. The look was retro and a bit surreal — prim ’60s with a touch of ’90s space-cowboy thrown in for good measure. Silhouettes stayed straightforward, save for an bubble-ruffle here or a pleated frill there. Necklines were crew, sleeves were cropped, and hemlines hit at the knee. For fabrics, Jacobs played with reflections and transparency, mixing materials that were glittery, shiny, or iridescent with checks and gingham. Reinforcing the intergalactic western vibe were high-heeled cowboy boots in clear vinyl and silver. Loved it all!!

Cohesiveness was the word at the packed-in, high-energy outing for Marc Jacobs’ secondary line earlier this evening. Swapping time slots with the main collection, this Monday night Marc by Marc offering felt refreshingly grown-up and pared-down: Mix-and-match separates in easy-wearing silhouettes got a high-octane kick with some clever color combining — poppy neons with navy, stony khakis with coral — while structural details like mini bubble-peplums added a hint of elevated cool to shift dresses, jumpsuits, and pencil skirts. There was an easy quirkiness at play here as well, one that appeared in the form of striped halter-neck swimsuits, sporty ruffled T-shirt dresses, and jumbo high-top sneakers. Loved this collection!!!!!!

I love that Rebecca Minkoff isn’t just about the wonderful bags!! Check out all the looks that were featured at her Spring 2012 Fashion Show.