New York fashion week: Fur and feathers

The shows started with Zac Posen at 9am, showing a collection he called "40s futurism". The future does not look good for foxes, judging by the Manolo Blahnik-designed footwear Photograph: Richard Drew/AP Photograph: Richard Drew/guardian.co.uk Posen usually caters to the red-carpet crowd with floor-sweeping elegance, but yesterday went for a more youthful hemline Photograph: Jason Szenes/EPA Photograph: Jason Szenes/guardian.co.uk Despite the early time slot, the show embraced a carnival air Photograph: Richard Drew/AP Photograph: Richard Drew/guardian.co.uk With prices rarely dipping below £1,000, Carolina Herrera makes clothes for ladies who probably wouldn't dream of wearing fake fur Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/guardian.co.uk Animal pelts were everywhere, from linings to collars Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/guardian.co.uk Herrera told the Wall St Journal yesterday: "The women who used to buy three dresses in a day, they don't buy that anymore. But they do buy one that they really want." Her ballgowns sell for roughly $10,000 Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters Photograph: Carlo Allegri/guardian.co.uk Final exits at Carolina Herrera Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA Photograph: Peter Foley/guardian.co.uk Donna Karan's collection - marking the 25th anniversary of her label - was very muted: almost entirely black, with just the odd flash of colour Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/guardian.co.uk Despite the anniversary, there was no nostalgia on display. Instead, high-tech and slinky silhouettes dominated. There was no sign either of letting the pace slip: "To be continued", proclaimed the show notes Photograph: Jazon Szenes/EPA Photograph: Jazon Szenes/guardian.co.uk Monique Lhuillier is known for her pretty gowns: perfect for Hollywood starlets eyeing up Oscar frocks. But this season her collection was inspired by "Chinese warrior and military suits" (no, me neither) and displayed a harder edge Photograph: Louis Lanzano/AP Photograph: Louis Lanzano/guardian.co.uk Fortunately, those starlets were also catered for, with the climax to the show featuring dramatic evening frocks Photograph: Natalie Behring/Reuters Photograph: Natalie Behring/guardian.co.uk Halston has struggled since its revival in 2007, but under new leadership by Marios Schwab it seems to be finding its way. Yesterday's collection featured sculpturally cut dresses in a mix of super-brights (crimson, yellow, blue) with nudes Photograph: David Goldman/AP Photograph: David Goldman/guardian.co.uk The designer obviously took pity on this model: it's a lot easier to lounge beautifully in these shoes than to walk in them Photograph: David Goldman/AP Photograph: David Goldman/guardian.co.uk Sarah Jessica Parker has recently been appointed to design the label's lower-priced Halston Heritage collection, and made an appearance at the presentation Photograph: David Goldman/AP Photograph: David Goldman/guardian.co.uk The day's shows culminated with Marc Jacobs. He had promised to ban the usual celebrity mayhem and, perhaps surprisingly, he stuck to his word. The show took place in a set made from cardboard Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP Photograph: Stan Honda/guardian.co.uk The soundtrack was "Somewhere over the Rainbow", but the palette was certainly not rainbow-bright Photograph: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images Photograph: Fernanda Calfat/guardian.co.uk Recently Marc Jacob's shows have been perfect for 80s party girls, but yesterday's show displayed a rather more demure look, including longer hemlines Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA Photograph: Peter Foley/guardian.co.uk The collection has already been hailed as perfect for the working woman: a woman, that is, who has a hefty bank balance and a penchant for fur Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA Photograph: Peter Foley/guardian.co.uk