Attendees at the Fall 2008 Rock & Republic show weren’t sure if they were there for the clothes or the spectacle.

After standing outside in the cold, getting past several security guards, scrambling to get a seat, and waiting for about an hour, the show finally opened to a shiny black runway wrapped around an orchestra pit complete with a grand piano. The theme was “Noir” and Rock & Republic sure delivered.

Not a pair of their trademark jeans was seen. Instead, femme fatale looks for women and James Bond-esque looks for men dominated. There were a plethora of black fitted suits, turtlenecks, and fedoras if you want to try the espionage thing. If the dominatrix is more your style, a pleated skirt and belted leather jacket combo will do the job. A curve hugging purple cowl-neck dress will allow you to seduce any man into sharing his secrets. For a more glamorous take on black, there was a plush cropped fur coat over a sweater dress cinched with a corset belt. And it’s not film noir without the va-va-voom sexpot. Slinky dresses with slits up to there shall do the trick.

Where to put all the spygear? Black leather duffels by day, and sleek clutches by night, of course.

Color Palette: Exclusively black with a bit of royal purple here and there

For the Bagistas Who: is fearless, sexy, and confident

Celeb Sightings: Sophia Bush, Joss Stone, Christina Milian, Ellen Pompeo, Vivica A. Fox, Natasha Henstridge, Russell Simmons, Tyson Beckford

Paula Lee, Celebrity Trends Editor

more shows >>