With the untimely death of renowned fashion designer Alexander McQueen, all those in the fashion world were left shocked and devastated. Yet, as they say, the show must go on. Last Thursday marked the start of New York City’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, known for its usual frenzy of designers, models, journalists and the one and only Anna Wintour. Despite being in February, this Fashion Week is where designers unveil their fall ready-to-wear collections, giving stores plenty of time to order their favorite designs and consumers plenty of time to salivate over the must-haves of the season. So now, without further adieu, here are the apparent trends and a few designer notes for fall 2010.

MATERIAL: FUR AND KNIT

Much to the dismay of animal rights groups and activists, fur has been shown all over the runway. Ranging from small accents on pieces to full-blown jackets, a majority of the bigger names in fashion made use of furry critters ranging from goat and mink to raccoon. Michael Kors created a beautiful hooded fur jacket that was a fusion of gray and white. Also in rare form was knitting. Many shirts, dresses and jackets were loosely knitted, and many made use of the cable knit. From dresses, to vests, to ponchos, the design team known as Rag & Bone proved knitting doesn’t have to look like it came from an attic.

COLOR: NEUTRAL, CAMEL, RED

Bright colors are out for the fall as most collections went for a more neutral palate. Many collections employed a monochromatic scheme of blacks and greys, such as hot new designer Thakoon, who created a dark and edgy statement. For that little bit of pizzazz, designers turned to camel and dark reds, like Nanette Lepore and Zac Posen. Recognition must be given to Nanette Lepore, whose models stormed the runway in short dresses of beautiful red hues, leaving a gorgeous collection in their wake.

SHAPE: A-LINE

In terms of shape, A-line skirts and wide-leg pants made their mark, as opposed to tight fitting designs. Take a look at Marc Jacobs collection, for example. His use of long and wide hem lines created a flowing and serene feel. 3.1 Phillip Lim also implemented wide leg pants in his designs, so say goodbye to your ultra skinny pants.

ACCENTS: DRAPING

A lot of outfits were accentuated with layering and draping of either the same, but most of the time, mixed materials. Rodarte created an aesthetically pleasing collection that made use of floral prints and lace, draped over neutral colors.

INFLUENCE: MENSWEAR

Many collections left full length gowns behind and broached the idea of menswear in their designs. As such, this influence was seen through the use of men’s tailoring in pants and suits. This influence was definitely apparent in Alexander Wang, who looked to Wall Street for inspiration as he used neutral colors to deconstruct the typical suit.