One of the hardest parts of going back to school is how quickly my work is interrupted by New York Fashion Week.  I know I should crack a textbook, get started on an assignment or two, but it’s nearly impossible to focus with pictures from an endless number of talented designer collections.  Add in Style.com’s iPhone app and I’m even having trouble staying focused in class.

Thanks a lot, Fashion Week.

And now that the week is done and I’ve spent every last second of it drooling over flowy dresses and a whole lot of bare bellies, it’s time to narrow down the best of the best from this year’s Spring Fashion Week. It was exceptionally difficult to choose favorites (it seemed like every single designer pulled out all the stops and created nearly perfect collections this year!), but using a very scientific formula (a scale ranging from “I’d totes wear that” to “I’d cut out my own kidneys and sell them on the Black Market to buy that”) I’ve determined this year’s Fashion Week Designer All-Stars.

Sorry, Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch – I really did love your collections – but as Iman (of Canada’s Next Top Model) would say: you just didn’t make the cut.

[Click on the images to see the entire collection.]

Anna Sui

After twenty years in the fashion biz, Anna Sui continues to stay true to her design aesthetic in this collection with cute baby dolls in gorgeous patterns.  The free-flowing pieces fit into the theme of ’70s inspired fashion seen throughout Fashion Week while still managing to stay modern and totally wearable in 2011 . The whole collection was flirty and feminine with fringe and feather accents complementing every look. In other words (or Rachel Zoe’s words….), Anna Sui Spring 2011 is major.

DKNY

The DKNY Spring show created a list of must-have items for the college girl.  Though other collections have bits and pieces us college girls might take inspiration from, DKNY is truly targeted at our age group.  Smart investment pieces (hello, khaki trench!) alongside fun prints and feminine ruffles show the perfect way to dress: combining the classic basics we can wear for our whole college career (and beyond) with youthful pieces in bright colors to add some zing to your wardrobe.

Tracy Reese

The trend of ’70s inspired fashion continued into Tracy Reese’s collection.  This woman knows how to work a print and knows how to do it well. With everything from watercolors to ethnic prints and even tie-dye, Tracy Reese brought out the drama in a way Betsy Johnson could never understand. Read: with elegance and class. I want it all!

Vera Wang

I’ll start out by saying I LOVE the rope knotted belts in this collection. And the quilting. And the layering. And the mixture of feminine and masculine pieces. And the homage to Kill Bill. OK, so there’s pretty much nothing about Vera’s collection that I didn’t love. Except maybe the price tag.

Vivienne Tam

If white cotton lace and crochet dresses are a sign of Spring, then Vivienne Tam should sponsor the season. Her whole collection had a light, airy, feminine feel. The florals, fluttery sleeves and open backs were incredibly classy while at the same time being totally relaxed. Fall has barely begun but Ms. Tam already has me thinking spring and planning my outfits for when the snow finally melts.

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Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

This season it seems like anything goes for shoes. There’s a multitude of colors, styles, and, most importantly, details. But one thing is for sure: boring shoes are definitely out. This season’s shoes are often gorgeous, always interesting, and many are pieces of art that look almost too good (and painful) to put on your feet.  There are some that are inexpensive (one pair is on sale for $4.99!!!) and others that we college gals will admire in the shop windows, praying the recession is over (and that we’re millionaires) by the time we get our diploma so we can “invest” in them.

Click on each image to find out where to buy (or get an up close and personal look at) these beautiful shoes.

Even the glamorous world of fashion has been hit hard by the recession. In a time where most people are cutting back, spending money on designer outfits just doesn’t seem reasonable. At this year’s New York Fashion Week, many designers have cut costs by hosting smaller runway shows or gallery presentations.

But more than how, designers have changed what they are showing. Their goal is to show women looks that they must have; looks that will get them reaching for their wallets. So what can you expect to be snatching up for fall? A little of this, a little of that and a whole lot of 80s…

1. Head-to-toe Black. While the future of fashion definitely looks dark, that may not be a bad thing. Sleek, modern-looking all-black ensembles have dominated the runways this week.

2. Purple and Red are breaking up the monotony by popping up occasionally, as well.

3. Leather is going to be everywhere this fall – jackets, boots, and, yes, leggings.

4. Cutouts will add sex appeal to the tougher, edgier looks you’ll be seeing.

5. Full-length, exposed zippers will also be back to make a bold statement on seemingly standard ensembles.

6. Built-Up or Padded Shoulders have been spotted quite a a few times on the runways, so get ready to raid your grandma’s closet. The big shoulder is gonna be huge (pun intended).

7. Cinched waists will be back next for fall, which is refreshing as it is the most flattering silhouette.

Other trends that will continue through fall 2009 are animal prints, volume and structure, full skirts, color blocks, and plaid. Thankfully designers have recycled some trends from ’08, allowing all of us to keep up with fashion without overhauling our wardrobes.

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It might seem a little bit early to be thinking about spring shopping, but for those of you who want to get a head start (or who just can’t wait for summer vacation already), here are the top ten looks I want to steal from fashion week this year (from top left to right in the above picture).

1. Philip Lim’s long, white cardigan was crisp and cool coming down the runway. In the real world, it is a perfect way to stay warm without looking too wintery and bundled up. Buy one at Victoria’s Secret. Yes, it may not be white in the picture below, but it does come that way!

2. The polka dot dress at the Michael Kors show was a total head turner. And he proved that you can wear polta dots without look too cutesy/Minnie Mouse-y. If you can’t afford a Michael Kors original, this dress from American Eagle is classy and totally in for the spring.

3. The Miss Sixty crew took plaid to a new length level with their longer plaid skirt. Plaid is really in right now for fall and this trend will continue through the spring. I love the longer look because short plaid skirts are really too Catholic school girl-esque. Buy one at Victoria’s Secret.

4. Elise Overland incorporated lots of bright colors into her collection, but my favorite was her orange dress. Orange is going to be a huge color this spring, so make sure you find a way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. Spring is all about the dress, so I recommend rocking a bright orange one like this frock from Forever 21.

5. Nicole Miller, one of the best dress designers around, sent a “Look at me” brightly colored and patterned dress down the runway at her show. And it just screamed spring! If you aren’t afraid of pattern, this dress from Urban Outfitters should definitely make an appearance in your wardrobe.

6. Ralph Lauren’s collection was classic, as usual. It was also super easy to mimic on a college girl’s budget! His short and fitted white coat is the perfect spring accessory to wear with jeans, skirts or even a cute pair of shorts. And you can steal the look at Delia’s.

7. Bright colors made their way into the DKNY collection in the form of a bright blue skirt. It is totally crisp and eye catching, no matter what you pair with it. Get your own at Topshop.

8. Rag & Bone mixed classy and cool with a high waisted short adorned with multiple zippers. The look is flattering on all bodies and totally revamps the usually casual look of shorts. I love these Plenty by Tracy Reese shorts from Nordstrom (which are on sale!).

9. The Lacoste vertical striped dress was sporty and flattering (vertical stripes make you look looooong and lean). But Lacoste also happens to be horribly overpriced. It’s pretty tough to find a cheap version of this piece right now, but if you’re willing to splurge, this dress from Bloomingdale’s is adorable. If not, there will be plenty of options as the season gets closer.

10. The Rock & Republic little white dress was HOT. Like, really hot. And although we saw mini white dresses in almost every runway show this week, the Rock & Republic one was my fav. The little white dress is a total classic that everyone needs to have. You can find this one at Urban Outfitters.