NYFW: Nanette Lepore SS 2012

I’m in love with how bright Nanette Lepore is, bright colorwise, and bright intelligent wise! “We approach color from a new place each season,” the designer said. “Everyone in this industry feeds off each other, and the fabric retailers have lately been pushing amazing, sturdy fabrics in these bright colors.” Never one to skip out on a big trend, Lepore put on a blinding show with head-to-toe electric colors (right down to the soles on the platform wedges).

Very well done, the shocking shades were more of an accent than the main act. A houndstooth shorts suit etched in tangerine orange, worn with a citron button-up, was a highlighter-hued highlight. As was the flouncy lilac tank dress in a scuba fabric with sporty zips and hot pink seams on the bodice. There were a few full-on looks here that crossed over into “Lisa Frank” territory (we’re thinking of a certain hibiscus-print windbreaker ensemble). But one thing is for sure: While some editors who have been running around from show to show this week might think the whole neon thing is played out already, Lepore’s youthful customer (like the designer’s teenage daughter, Violet, who was wearing a pair of acid yellow Doc Martens) will surely find today’s color palette fresh come springtime.