The Diva is back, and apologizes for the hiatus. It’s been a busy week!

As far as best collections go, Ralph Lauren took the #2 spot for me. The plaids, the tweeds, and the overall 90s feel to it was perfect for this Diva’s taste. And I love to see someone who’s basically the founder of preppy fashion go just a little grunge.

This is head-to-toe perfection. That shirt is the perfect print, the perfect colors, and the sleeves are beautiful. I’ve never seen a vest so adorable, nor pants that fit so well (and do my eyes deceive me, or do the pants have little buttons on the bottom? PRECIOUS). And finally, someone is wearing a belt where belts actually were created to be worn. It’s about time. Cute purse, great styling, and the overall look is just so tailored and stunning. It’s a darker side to preppy, and I love it.

Ralph Lauren filled the end of his show with elaborate, floor-length, floral gowns, worn casually with black lace elbow-length fingerless gloves. (Basically a high-fashion version of what I wore to my 90s themed birthday party, lace gloves and all.) Gown after gown was beautiful and unique, with the models styled like cleaner versions of Rayanne Graff from My So-Called Life

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Between the two above looks, I can’t help but think that Ralph designed this collection with me in mind. I’d absolutely kill to wear any of his runway designs from this astonishingly beautiful collection, which you can view here in its entirety.

The Best Collection of Fall 2010’s New York Fashion Week

For this Diva, there was no contest. Marchesa was the winner by a landslide. Just look at the draping on that dress – it’s impeccably made, it’s charming, and it has a sense of humor about itself without being costumey. And the shoes? Yes, please. Though I’m not crazy about the model, I think this is just so loveable.

For me, this dress is the angsty older sister of the dress before it. It’s still red, it’s still fascinatingly draped and the shapes are still rose-inspired, but somehow this gives off an entirely different, and much more intense, vibe. If ever there was a dress that Lady Gaga should wear on a day when she’s only feeling minimally insane, it’s this. The model’s got a quite a “What the fuck are you looking at” expression (but is it just me, or do her feet look extremely diseased?), and I’d love to see the way this dress moves, especially on the red carpet. This is certainly my favorite dress of my favorite collection of Fashion Week.

And here is  Marchesa’s brilliance – it’s not all fun and silly, and it’s not all dark and avant garde. Sometimes, it’s just simple and beautiful with a bit of intrigue. That tuxedo bolero jacket is absolutely to die for. And the way the dress billows out from underneath such a structured top makes me never want to look away from it. I also believe the stockings have designs around the ankles, made to look like she’s wearing anklets or is tattooed or some such thing. I love it. The shoes are killer and the model is gorgeous.

This represents another genius aspect of Marchesa. This is a dress everybody tries to make, from Project Runway contestants to high-fashion designers and back again. But it’s Marchesa who gives it detail, meaning, and intrigue. The multitude of textured fabrics she uses are beautiful, as is the color scheme, which is winter at its best. Again, she used embellished tights that are reminiscent of an ice dancer, except for the fact that I love them. And another pair of shoes that I’d sell my kidney to wear.

And this is just classic Marchesa. Extravagant, innovative, and fit for a queen.

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My LAST New York Fashion Week post will be up later today! Stay tuned.