New York Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2011: Jason Wu’s Baroque view

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Jason Wu gave American sportswear a French kiss with his sublime collection, inspired by Robert Polidori’s photos of the restoration of Versailles and set on a runway of antique mirrors.

It’s tough to make lace look new, but Wu did it, using five different varieties to trim everything from a slim gray flannel coat, to a gray sweatshirt. A charcoal skirt with strips of lace down either side had a luxe athletic look, as did a floral wool anorak with scattered, multicolored crystal accents.

Pieces of black lace embroidery resembled falling leaves on a belted, cream houndstooth jaquard shift dress. And the combo of a fitted purple wool jacket with embroidered lace epaulettes, worn with black wool cigarette pants, was a chic update on the pantssuit.

Many of the looks were styled with black ribbons tied at the neck -- a trick you can try at home if Wu’s gold lace paillette gown, and cerise pink silk chiffon gown with Baroque crystal-embroidered belt are not in your budget.

This beautifully-executed collection is another milestone for the young designer. It was opulent, but not in a gray lady way, and exquisitely detailed. If Wu’s name hasn’t been floated to take over a major European fashion house, this was proof that it should be.

-- Booth Moore in New York

Jason Wu Fall-Winter 2011 runway collection photo gallery

Photo, top: Looks from the Jason Wu Fall-Winter 2011 runway collection shown during New York Fashion Week. Credit, left: Jemal Countess / Getty Images. Credit, right: Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press Photos.

Photo bottom: Looks from the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011 runway collection shown during New York Fashion Week. Credit left: Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press Photos. Credit right: Jemal Countess / Getty Images.