Using prints, stripes and color, Stephen Burrows delivered a show full of delightful contrasts for this season's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. His Autumn/Winter 2011 collection was revealed at Burrows' paired-down, warehouse-like showroom. Exposed brick and neutral flooring played contrast to brilliantly-colored frocks, exuberant reds and blues were met with asymmetrical black stripes, and dresses made with voluminous, egg-shaped hips were checked by body-conscious waists.

Indeed, it was a show full of spirited paradoxes executed by a veteran using a team of relatively fresh faces.

The playful models (including Pat Cleveland's daughter Anna) turned, smirked and swayed down the runway in such a way that it was clear that these girls were actually having fun. Onlookers even cheered them on as they hammed it up along the U-shaped catwalk. Timothy Priano's hair and make up teams (led by Ben Thipen and Kim Gray, respectively) kept tresses slick and faces simple with the exception of a bold red lip, giving prominence to the drama of the collection.

Burrows' charismatic use of shape and color lent a playfulness to the overall ease of his pieces. He leaned on soft, stretchy fabrics, which have been his signature; and he kept the overall design of many of the clothes somewhat simple, letting his inspiration of "egg shapes, stripes, plaids, and prints combined" come to the forefront. Many of Black fashion's elite turned up to see Burrows' joyful juxtapositions. Among the many recognizable faces were Vogue Magazine Contributing Editor and fashion powerhouse Andre Leon Talley, celebrity stylist extraordinaire June Ambrose, and model-turned-TV host Tyson Beckford. In fact, the show felt almost like a good time shared amongst friends. While the collection was not particularly trend-focused, we don't believe Burrows intended to make an extremely serious statement. After the number of economically difficult years we've all had, he may have just been encouraging us to relax and have a little fun.

Well, Mr. Burrows, if Fall is going to be this laid back and lively, we are all looking forward to it.

What do you think of Stephen Burrows' Fall collection?