Designers unveiled their spring collections in New York on Wednesday. As the fashion community waved goodbye to short ‘cute’ tulip thigh skimmers, we all raised a glass to toast the unfortunate demise of the baby doll dress and the end of potato sack chic. As silhouettes of ivory, tope and lilac took centre stage I wonder how young Hollywood will survive life without ‘rehab chic’ inspired ensembles. This season embraces a clean fresh basque along with ‘lean, polished looks’.

“It's a clean-up campaign,” David A. Wolfe, creative director of The Doneger Group trend forecasters, told Reuters. “[New styles will be] not as flashy and not as vulgar as we've seen in the recent past -- fewer clothes for Britney and Paris Hilton, more for grown-up women,” he said. Designer Carmen Marc Valvo agreed as Reuters reported. “It's going to be very polished, cleaner, more put together and a little more refined.”

BCBG Max Azria (photograph above) showcased practical tulle and organza creations cinched at the waist in a white washed pallet. The designer couple collection highlighted the femininity of pleated embellishments on an ivory bustier dress accompanied by an understated slip. The fitted bodice has returned as designer Tracy Reese concurred when explaining to Reuters, “things will get closer to the body. I didn't like the tent [dress],” she said, “I work hard to look this good, and I don't want to hide it.”

Nautica kicked off fashion week with a classic three piece pinstriped suit, casual masculine swim wear and high hem lengths on trousers. Their signature sailor motif embraced the spirit of the collection as neck scarves added a subtle flair for the dramatic.

 Y and Kei took inspiration from the free love era in an attempt to spread the message of peace, love and beauty in fashion. Long loose dresses were heavily adorned with dramatic embellishments. Sequence, black chiffon and silver fabrics added theatrics and glamour to the collection.

Within the next week over 100 000 people are set to attend the spring showings and over 270 designer collections have been scheduled, with an average of four shows running per hour. Celebrity showings remain a highlight as they draw in the crowds.

Fern Mallis of IMG Fashion, co-ordinator of Fashion Week, has dubbed the event the power house of American Fashion. “You want to do business in the fashion industry in America, you come here,” she told Reuters, “Paris is very much a think tank, Italy is a design or manufacturing centre, and New York is the centre of practical and wearable clothing.”