Fall 2012 quickies: Obakki and Kaelen

Fashion Week officially started today, but a few renegades tend to sneak onto the schedule a few days early, which I like. It's a nice way to ease into the craziness, and these early shows are often pretty low key (complete with champagne). Obakki is a Canadian contemporary line with a very global feel, but that translates into very wearable pieces—flattering printed silk draped tops for day, sexy-snug party dresses for night—finished with interesting prints and textures. Not to mention the best-looking leather leggings I've seen in awhile.

Kaelen has graduated to the tents, and for her first Lincoln Center presentation, she stayed true to her minimalist aesthetic with pure, tailored shapes; however for this outing, she stepped up her game with more luxe fabrics like liquid-looking metallic leather and even sexy black lace. I found the solid and colorblocked looks to be more refined than the wallpaper-like prints in the beginning, but it's always interesting to see how designers can push their own limits.