Like many designers this week who have taken a harder approach to their usual girly aesthetic, Monique Lhuillier, too, for Autumn Winter 2012 delivered a collection that showed her new bold flair.

Eveningwear has always been a hallmark for the California-based designer and these gowns did not disappoint. A textured combination of red and black lace, leather and sequins were unifying catwalk motifs—based around the concept of contrasting ideas. The use of leather was quite prominent from the get go, with a red and black printed lace cocktail dress with black leather bodice setting the tone for the directional show. There were a few moments of plum, gold and silver pops that really screamed for a moment at the upcoming Oscars. Lhuillier’s painstaking attention to detail is evident in every stitch, but the results were thoroughly modern and desirable across many fronts.