Images via NYMag

Versus set the scene with a gymnasium-styled runway for its 2012 fashion show. The collection provided sporty dresses and skirts in soft pastels, think pink and green. Here the textile was as noteworthy as designs themselves, I loved the mix of colors and patterns. These looks were strong and held their own allure. The leather jacket with peek-a-boo cut-outs in the shoulders and sleeves comes to mind.

Versus had an abundance of colors, prints, stripes and plaid for Spring 2011.  The school girl uniform has never been sleeker or more alluring.   There was nothing rigid or parochial about these looks.  The background was on a playground, witness the soccer net - it must be recess in the school yard.  The pieces had modest cut-outs and form-fitting shapes.  It was a young and playful collection, yet  judiciously flirtatious.

Versus is the revived diffusion line from Versace, designed by Christopher Kane.  The fall 2010 collection was on fire.  Delicately pleated mini skirts in scarlett red, midnight black and caribbean blue took center stage.  The collection was eerily reminiscent of the 1950′s, even though the skirts were far more modest in their coverage back then.  One look had a cardigan thrown around the shoulders and it further highlighted the 50′s.  Some of the looks reminded me of the cigarette girls at the theater in the 1950′s as well.  Those were the sweeter looks.  Along the way, a darker side emerged in the form of bondage; strips of ribbon made up the upper half of a few dresses.  Black leather gloves reaching the upper arm paired with a black pair of knee-length boots and short black dress cried out dominatrix.  Among my favorite were the graphic T-shirts which were a nice complement to all the skin shown.  Christopher Kane revisited the past and brought back a very sexy future.  The collection makes up with femininity what it lacks in modesty.  There is something inherently sweet about the Versus girl, even as she takes control.  Who wouldn’t want to be a Versus girl come fall?

Lara Stone heats up Versace’s ad campaign for Versus this spring.  The design house remains true to its nature with this sensual commercial for its fragrance.  Lara has already worked with Givenchy, Calvin Klein, and she recently replaced Madonna at Louis Vuitton.  She is a model in demand, and from the looks of this ad it will stay that way.  So we have selected Lara Stone for our Rollcall list this week.