Spring 2013 Makes What's Old Seem New Again

At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the Spring 2013 collections of Badgely Mischka, Jenny Packham, Betsey Johnson and Nanette Lepore all had not-so-subtle accents of eras past. "It's inspired by the movie Midsummer Night's Dream, the 1935 version which we colorized in our head," said designer Mark Badgely of Badgely Mischka. Long evening gowns with an art-deco feel and sparkling embellishments stole the show.

Designer Jenny Packham looked back to the luster of the old Strip, when it used to be the hottest destination for the original Hollywood stars. "It was inspired by a sort of 1950's Las Vegas, the Rat Pack time when Las Vegas was the coolest place in the universe. And, then obviously trying to make that less retro and modernize it," said Packham. "It starts with a big retrospective of four decades.

"It's the big Betsey birthday bonanza bash," said the designer, who featured a whopping 90 pieces in her fashion show, which also doubled as an over-the-the top 70th birthday party, complete with confetti, balloons and even a pet pig. One for the more eclectic collections was found on the Nanette Lepore Spring 2013 catwalk. "The colors are pumped up pastels and the patterns and prints are taken from traditional porcelain and toiles and blown up into crazy proportions and colors," Lepore told us. The clothes were a perfectly messy mix of prints, textures and fabrics, featuring hints of neon, gingham and stripes.