The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue – Fashion Week El Paseo, March 15, 2013

Bright-yellow outfits from Saks Fifth Avenue and an electric atmosphere propelled opening night of the eighth edition of Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Desert.

“The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue” featured the finest women and men’s designer clothes from its spring 2013 collections.

Fresh new fashions by Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Emelio Pucci, Akris Punto, Ralph Lauren, Dsquared2, Etro, Stella McCartney, Pauw, Alexander McQueen and others lit up the runway, showcasing top picks from the retailer’s contemporary styles.

The show started with a lemon-fringe dress by Stella McCartney that signaled a bright season ahead. It was followed by McCartney’s floral blazer, which mixed beautifully with a confetti-black tank and ivory tuxedo pants.

The rest of the show proved this will be a season of big color and generally mixing things up. Alexander McQueen’s orange cape dress, Reid Krakoff’s royal blue blazer and shorts, and Christian Dior iris purple crisscross-back dress punctuated the winsome color trend for spring.

Nature-inspired prints also surfaced on the runway — mostly in florals (Giambattista Valli, Stella McCartney, Aquilandro Rimondi, and Etro), but also dragonflies (Alexander McQueen).

The audience also liked the fine and elegant sequins and beadings by Kaufman Franco, Haute Hippie, and Brunello Cucinelli, as well as the classic, elegant lace by Chloe and Dolce & Gabbana.

But it was a men’s black swim trunk by Dsquared2 that lifted the audience from the seats.

Prior to the runway action, La Quinta Baking Company served up hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail reception, featuring wine from Foris and La Merika.

Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, also known as The Galen, hosted the after party.

The evening benefitted The Living Desert.

Fashion Week El Paseo continues through March 23.