Some of our favorite designs this season included Mercedes-Benz presents designer, Derek Lam; Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, Milly by Michelle Smith, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Naeem Khan, and Carolina Herrera.

Derek Lam

Diane von Furstenberg

DKNY

Michael Kors

Nanette Lepore

Milly by Michelle Smith

Marc Jacobs

Ralph Lauren

Calvin Klein

Naeem Khan

Carolina Herrera

photo courtesy of getty images

Armani minus the Sticker Shock

Armani Exchange, which for 17 years has brought “Affordable Armani” (not an oxymoron) to South Beach, celebrated its facelift and expansion last week with a bit of fanfare. If you’ll recall, 17 years ago most of Lincoln Road was condemned by the city and Ocean Drive was a retirement community. Yet Armani Exchange set up shop to bring hip and stylish clothes to the pioneers of the SoBe we’ve come to know and love (most of the time). President & CEO Harlan Bratcher told the 411 “AIX was the first designer flagship store on South Beach, and Giorgio Armani was the first designer to offer a ‘diffusion line’ (that’s a fancy way to say cheap, chic designer duds). The average price for a designer piece is just $50, but it’s not a ‘one-time-wear.’ Affordable Armani is still Armani.” Other designers following in Armani’s footsteps by creating diffusion lines include Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs.

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