They say that the best of fashion is enduring - a timeless thing that lives forever in its perfect, untouched chrysalis. But what truly makes fashion interesting is its impermanence. The evolution of style, in all its fitful spasms of change, is a more fascinating process to observe.

Change certainly marked the Bill Blass collection for spring 2008. The House of Blass has gone through three designers since the fashion legend died in 2002. The most recent head of design, Michael Vollbracht, left several months ago, replaced by Peter Som. But Som's women's wear line won't be shown until next year. So who designed the "bridge" collection shown during Fashion Week? That job went to Prabal Gurung, who turned in a small but stunning collection of evening gowns and dresses that hinted of '50s Hollywood glamour.

Goodbye, gray: Spring collections are awash with color at New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK (AP) -- After a season of gray, expect spring fashions to pop in technicolor.The runways at New York Fashion Week were awash with color last week, from candy-hued magentas and yellows to muted shades of blush pink, light tan and dusty blue. It's a far cry from the gray that dominated the fall lines.Sunny yellow and candylike pink and blue created the palette for Miss Sixty (where the skinny jean lives on), while standouts at Bill Blass came in blush-colored silk-satin and gunmetal silk organza. At Nicole Miller late Wednesday, stained-glass prints and earthy colors dominated.Michael Fink, fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, said it wasn't yet clear what the big color story will be: candy-colored brights, subdued cosmetics colors or black and white. The only mistake, he said, would be to wear any of them head to toe.New York Fashion Week lasts eight days, previewing the spring-summer looks of 60 designers for fashion editors, retail buyers and stylists.