We fell hard for Natalie Alcala last fall, when the LA-based writer spent a week guest blogging for us. In fact, we loved her posts so much that we asked her to be a contributing editor. In addition to blogging for us once a week, she’ll also be writing for the Birchbox Magazine and keeping us up to speed on all things fashion, beauty, and fun.

Photos: Style.com

One of my favorite things to do at the end of fashion week is to thoroughly scan every show to round up the top looks. For fall 2012, I noticed that designers strayed from last year’s sportswear influence to produce pieces that played on both femininity and strength. Luxe fabrics, sheer elements, sharp layers, and fearless pattern-play all contributed to the season’s dressed-up approac. Here are fives runway looks that I’m dreaming of and a few tips on how you can rock the style at home.

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• NAHM
• altuzarra
• fashion week
• guest blogger
• phillip lim
• prabal gurung
• rag and bone
• Natalie Alcala

Show: Prabal Gurung

Hair: TIGI

Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury for M.A.C.

Nails: Jin Soon for Sally Hansen

The Vibe: Good and evil; light and dark. Prabal Gurung’s collection was translated quite literally in this season’s beauty look: the line started all black, then transitioned to blue looks, and ended with ivory and gold pieces. Fittingly, Sally Hansen created four custom colors for the show, three of which were used on models: a black called Onyx, a lovely blue called Blue Rose, and a gorgeous chrome glitter gold called Gilded Lily. “Whoever is wearing black gets black nails, whoever is wearing blue gets blue nails, and gold polish is for the blonde girls wearing white and gold” explained lead manicurist, Jin Soon.

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• prabal gurung
• sally hansen
• fashion week fall 2012
• MAC
• fashion week