With tweets flying all day yesterday about the Jason Wu show, I couldn’t wait for photos to hit style blogs today. Last year, he was my favorite by far. Perhaps it was the expectation I’d built up, but this time I was underwhelmed.

Unlike what he did for Fall 2010, which was a glorious mix of textures, colors and interesting shapes, Wu’s Fall 2011 collection was comparatively simple. He used mostly black and white, and while some of the fabrics and detailing were rich and sumptuous – in keeping with the baroque theme he was intentionally channeling – the clothes themselves didn’t excite me very much. Wu referred to the collection as austere. I’d agree. I’d also choose another word: boring.

That being said, a handful of his dressier pieces worked for me. Simple as it is, I love this black dress with the cream underlayer playfully peeping out. I would wear this gold sheath in cocktail length. And you just know we’re going to see this black gown on Michelle Obama somewhere.

Nothing boring about what was going on over at Norma Kamali, who put on a show for Fashion Week for the first time in years. I loved her cheeky collection, even though, at five two, there’s no way I could ever pull most of it off. The flounced skirt and fur-trimmed jacket, however, MUST make it into my closet.

Peter Som – another of my favorites last year – said that for Fall 2011 he “wanted clothes my friends wanted to wear.” I guess Peter Som’s friends must be really into anoraks, because he certainly sent a lot of them down the runway. Unfortunately, as with Jason Wu, in comparison to what he did last year Peter Som was a letdown for me. Still, there’s no doubt that the obligatory anorak on a blustery Fall day in Boston would be more cheerful worn over one of his fun, patterned dresses.

Oddly enough, the collection that was all the rage with online fashionistas yesterday, Vena Cava, didn’t appeal to me much at first. Now, having seen some of what else is being offered, it’s starting to grow on me. Despite the criticism they got for showing too much of a 90′s influence, I really like the long skirts and the fun combinations of contrasting proportions. I especially love the rich rust and the wide, square necklines (which will be so flattering on me with my swimmer’s shoulders). I even love the berets! WANT.