KEY POINTS:
For her second outing at New York Fashion Week, designer Karen Walker kept a well-manicured finger firmly in several trendy pies.
There were knitted hats and chunky combat boots that welcomed back grunge. Then there was the interesting signature print we've come to expect from Walker - a lightning bolt printed on catsuits, tops, baggy trousers and leggings which, with the brightly hued nylon parkas, made for a lightly fluorescent nod to the 80s.
Also returning was the 30s influence Walker was into last time in New York.
Although Walker is certainly flavour of the month overseas, for her local audience there might just be something a little "seen before" about some of the looks. And probably the most interesting shapes involved those jackets with an almost sculptural feel, as well as the oversized but pretty cape sleeves.
And in what might be a cunning forecast of Walker's potentially profitable future in franchise, the accessories - jewellery, belts, boldly coloured sunnies and knitted hats - were very covetable, too.
Indeed, her last season of sunglasses have already sold out of hip American department store Barney's.
All that was witnessed by the approximately 400-strong audience at the event, which, despite not being on the official schedule, included many of the most important press, as well as Walker's friend, model Shalom Harlow in the front row and actor Justin Theroux, who has appeared in films like Zoolander.
Walker's show took place on Saturday and it's only the beginning of New York Fashion Week; it will go on until Friday. Although American runway shows tend to be pretty plain anyway - they're far from the wild events of London or Paris - so far, it feels as if international visitors, such as Walker, Sass & Bide from Australia, and Brazilian Alexandre Herchcovitch, have come up with the most interesting looks.
The biggest trends to emerge so far, from shows like BCBG, Nicole Miller, Diane von Furstenberg and DKNY indicate sobre colours are in, hemlines are rising and next winter's must-have will be a pair of crazy stockings.
