Juan Carlos Obando Fall 2010

This Colombian Los Angeles-based designer is an art director by trade, and more recently a fashion designer and beauty entrepreneur (his line of hair products, Number Four, was presented on the seats of lucky editors). Obando's emphasis is on construction (he famously constructs garments himself) -- and he is thus very precise. The clothes look it.

This collection, his fifth, was focused, minimal and graphic. There was a simple palette of off-whites, olive (one of the weeks biggest colors), camel, black and grey. There was a utilitarian quality to the day wear (in that Pheobe Philo Celine-vein, we are seeing everywhere) -- with skinny hip-cut pants, angled jackets, sleeveless shells, self-belted coats, and shift dresses. And for evening there were gorgeous flowing silk gowns -- banded in an art director's favorite colors, black and white.

His top looks included a stone grey razor suit, black and white lace-up "boot-extensions" and lace-up boots; Brown wax-cotton top and olive hip cut wool slim trousers; Camel belted shirt dress; Long sleeve petal cashmere belted dress; Washed silk cloud grey and black banded top flowing gown.

Obanda named the collection "La Poderosa Redux" (translation, the potent one). The designer cites his inspiration as technique and "Today's woman. Her form. The way she moves."