Cheryl Shops

British designer Jenny Packham is known foremost for her romantic wedding gowns and, more recently, for dressing Kate Middleton. And so Packham ventured back into more sweet territory after her sexy foray for fall, all the better to appeal to the Duchess of Cambridge's less outré tastes. The show begain with creamy, dreamy lime silk chiffon gowns and progressed through turquoise and coral before ending with a series of breathtaking crimson numbers while the Rolling Stone's "She's a Rainbow" played on (coincidentally, the processional for my wedding back in June). Interspersed throughout were heavily beaded frocks and even a flirty romper or two; Swarovski was a sponsor, and Packham knows what she's doing when it comes to sparkly beads. Packham makes eveningwear that's sweet and demure but just sexy enough to be interesting; one can see why Ms. Middleton is a fan.

Whereas Packham's version of sexy is romantic and proper and British, Carlos Miele's is all exposed limbs and sheer fabrics and Brazilian glamour. It's a caipirinha versus a white wine; both are equally refreshing in their own way. Opening with a series of three sheer swirl-print chiffon caftans, Miele's cocktail of choice this season was, like many other designers, bright color: vivid orange and green in solids and prints, mixed with gold and white; one can only imagine all the fabulous places Miele's customer will wear these things. Adding to the glamour was the relative simplicity of the shapes— clothes that don't overpower the wearer let her sexuality truly shine through.