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After a week in the trenches at NYFW, we can tell you — strong lady looks are where it’s at! And we at AOP know that strong ladies are of many moods, so here’s how four different designers interpret what makes for bold, beautiful and in-control…

Fancy yourself Fresh and Strong? Think tomboy, Brit-punky, edgy… and still feminine! Rebecca Taylor rocked the “pretty tough” look with glitz, zippers, and plenty of tailored jackets and vests — a little polish goes a long way.

Boy-girl is fresh together at Rebecca Taylor

A Powerhouse Amazon? You know who you are, so does Herve Leger! HL upped the sporty-go-luxe vibe with pieces sculpted to fit every last curve. Plus, we learned that accessories galore balance a form-hugging figure — stop traffic AND keep it practical.

Curves and purpose at Herve Ledger

Stand-Apart Trend-Setter? VPL introduced a mix of bold dimensions, flowing cuts and even – gasp! – crochet embellishments. This is the stuff for the gal who knows how to own her look — wear it like you mean it, and no trend is impossible.

Knitted up modern at VPL

And because The Statuesque Dame never goes out of style… Catherine Malandrino reminded us that nothing commands attention like a long, sleek figure. Keeping it clean and high waisted creates that eloooongated effect… The illusion of a few more inches? Confidence-booster, no doubt!

Small torso, longer silhouette at Catherine Malandrino

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We caught up with 90210’s Shenae Grimes backstage at Rebecca Minkoff‘s Fall 2013 Collection where the Canadian-born left-coast fashionista eyed up some bright ‘n swingy frocks. “I feel like she designs them for her and her friends … she obviously is on point with trend.” And so are you, girl!

Sunny Shenae knows her way around fashion week…

And Rebecca Minkoff shows she can do sunny too!

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Don’t say we didn’t warn you — if there’s one trend you can trust will dominate Fall 2013, it’s texture. And lots of it. Tweed, leather, fur… even transparent rain gear at Lacoste! It’s been a straight up texture riot at NYFW, and the bigger the contrasts… the more everything seems to blend just right! Feel free to go at this trend with gusto, gals!

Project Runway’s parade of texture

We also caught major proportion performances at Project Runway, Charlotte Ronson and, once again, Lacoste. The most popular silhouette for his trend — ballooning tops over slim-cut bottoms. That’s some attention-grabbing shape, for sure!

Proportion popping silhouette at Lacoste

And it’s time again to celebrate the almighty basic black! Easy to build on and, with all the added kick of fellow texture and proportion trends, maybe not so basic afterall… Charlotte Ronson tapped her inner Brit and splashed her dark line with sixties inspired hunter green blooms, and we just looove all the turns leather is taking this year. Have a look:

Basic black meets a shower of flowers at Charlotte Ronson

Zip into a full leather Lacoste dress

Black works the bulky over skinny look at Lacoste

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Girls, it’s that point in Fashion Week when it’s time to get your trends down! We’ve spied a few common threads tying together some top name Fall 2013 collections, and here’s few tips before you get your shopping on — think reds, think textures, think metallics!

We saw red on the runway as early as The Red Dress Collection, and it just keeps coming…

Edun did reds darkly, mixing in bruise-y and punch tones of the hue du season

Max Azria’s BCBG line showed us how to layer up on textures, and we caught more “polished edgy” combos at Edun — helloooo, leather and tweed — très rawk! Edun also worked some heavy flashes of night-owl worthy silver into the mix…

Full-body splash of silver at Edun

Who else shined out? Earthy tones and neutrals collided with sparkling futuristic metallics at Kenneth Cole. His city-warrior wear manages to mix layered textures and mega metallics in a way that looks ready to step right from runway to sidewalk. Major urban edge! Peek it…

Future-treated earth tones at Kenneth Cole

Mixing textures and shine at Kenneth Cole

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Guess who we caught up with backstage at Edun? That’s right — husband of label mastermind Ali Hewson — aka Bono.

Edun’s Ali Hewson & husband Bono

Though he swerved modest when describing his personal style (“I’d say… low”), and offered that he knows nothing about fashion (“I feel like an intruder here [at Fashion Week].”), well… we say the iconic singer proved to know quite a bit, starting with this take on Ali — “She knows what she’s talking about.” We agree. We also agree with Bono’s bon mots on the topics of fashion:

ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY & PREPARATION BEHIND EDUN’S FALL 2013 LINE:
“… Fashion… wow. … it’s really tough. You gotta really believe in what you’re doing.”

“You have to be fearless. And you have to go for something new. And if you go for something new, then people may not get it.”

ON WIFE ALI HEWSON’S INTERPRETATION OF EVOLVING TRENDS:
“… You have this sort of pseudo-glamour thing going … And then you have the reaction to that … this sort of grunge-y, anti-glamour school … and she’s found some kind of hybrid … it looks very fresh to me.”

Edun on the runway

ON MUSIC & FASHION… AND HIS ROLE IN IT:
“There’s always been a relationship, even if it’s an anti-fashion stance.”

“What do I know? I had a mullet, you know what I mean?”

That mullet in the 80s? Forgiven.

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Our first Fashion Week swoon? The soft-yet-edgy “hip gypsy” vibe at BCBG! For his Fall 2013 collection, Max Azria played with up to five different colors and textures at a time to pull off his flirty-sophisto layered boho looks. And, ooooh, heads up — turns out the slouchy knit hat is seeex-ay! Go for a fresh face and highlighted cheekbones to play up the face-framing toppers perfectly!

Our front-row friends at LifeMinute shared the scoop:

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Our favorite pixie screen-darling, Ginnifer Goodwin, sat down with LifeMinute to talk about her partnership with Smiles Across America for the Listerine® 21-Day Challenge. GG talked the benefits of sleep, water and, of course, the swish…

My dears, it only takes 30 seconds twice daily for Listerine® Ultraclean Antiseptic to keep your mega-watt smile in tip-top shape AND contribute to dental care for children who don’t normally have access to oral health services. That’s a win-win!

Want to help ABC’S Once Upon a Time starlet put a smile on the faces of children in need? (Of course you do.) Visit Facebook to sign on!

Ginnifer’s red-carpet swish (it’s THAT easy!)

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Yesterday the stars were in full va-va-voom effect for the The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection 2013 Fashion Show at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The red-hot runway spectacular featured gorgeous gowns by some of America’s top designers (Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Zac Posen, the list goes on!), and every last celebri-model gamely strutted their stuff for women’s heart health and heart disease awareness. Good cause, smokin’ fashion… We sooo heart it! Visit The Heart Truth to learn more, and check out these lovely ladies in red:

Soledad O’Brien, Gabby Douglas & Kelly Osbourne bonded backstage

Minka Kelly heats up the runway

Kendall & Kylie Jenner: fierce sistah duo!

Jamie Chung glammed it up

The “hearty” finale — strength in red-hot numbers

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At laaast, the wait is over! CeeLo Green just dropped a new track off his upcoming full-length, and it’s a sweet one!

The stylin’ crooner debuted “Only You” on Rollingstone.com earlier this week, and for a little bonus vibe, it features Lauriana Mae’s lovely pipes in all their throwback glory.

We’re totally keeping this on our playlist while we wait for upcoming full-lengths from both of these swoony soul singers!

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John Varvatos launched his Spring 2013 campaign on Tuesday, and it’s another musician-meets-fashion mash-up to be reckoned with! Known for his collaborations with major music scenesters, this time rock’n’roll’s favorite designer paired Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page with next-generation axe-master Gary Clark Jr. in a series of stately black and white portraits dripping with serious cool and elegance.

Photographer Danny Clinch shot the decked-out duo at the historical 1950‘s art deco venue Rivoli Ballroom in South London. And from the looks of it, Varvatos continues to prove he’s the authority on How to Dress a Rock Icons:

Rock Royalty past and present

Behind the scenes

Rivoli Ballroom, South London made for a stunning backdrop