Searing pink lights blazed and horror-movie music hit menacing chords as Chadwick Bell sent models down his Fall 2012 runway. Roughed-up bouffants also set the tone. “A perfect woman in an imperfect situation” – his inspiration was clear. And doesn’t that apply to all of us? Try as we might to be perfect, our lives rarely are. But that doesn’t mean we can’t aspire to flawlessness through dress!

I love the edgy take on the uptown girl who lunches with purpose, the classy cocktailer who has a wild side. Not everyone gets it but no doubt they will catch on. Chadwick Bell makes beautiful clothes and he won’t pretend otherwise. No tempting trend, nor hip-factor enticement will lure him away from doing what he does best. But that’s not to say his clothes are at all mature. In fact, in his hands, ladylike dress – the fur stoles, tuxedo blazers, high-slit pencil skirts – is fresh, flirty, and relevant. Hmm…who does that sound like?! Why, Oscar de la Renta, of course! I’m calling it: Chadwick is a young Oscar poised to take over the Upper East Side.

The fox furs, python and leather pieces, tiers of feathers, much of it embellished, beaded, and handmade in India, all stand out, but the navy chiffon peplum-top is my number-one pick – I just need the model’s boobs to go with it and I’m all set for Fall/Winter 2012.