We have to admit that we have always had some trouble reconciling PERRY ELLIS's stylish runway shows with the more middle - of - the - road merchandise the label offers at Macy's, Dillard's and the like. Is this a designer  priced signature line? Who sells it? Someone enlighten us.
Creative director John Crocco puts on an appealing show, and this was the best Perry Ellis presentation we have seen so far. Crocco took his guy to the country and made a strong case for Norfolk jackets and the return of cargo pants in a range of rich, earthy hues. He even made leather trousers look right, but are any of those great sweaters that recall the orignal Ellis signature knits really getting made, and where can we buy them?
In other relevant news, Chad White has replaced Tyson Ballou as the male model designers most want to undress. While Fall runway shows offer few opportunities to show skimpy swimwear, Crocco solved that problem by putting the crowd favorite (seen above) in sienna wool/alpaca long johns.

DUCKIE BROWN is always a fun show because we never know what designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver are going to throw at us. This season seemed to be more of a place holder, refining ideas we had seen before, which is not a criticism. Suits were more carefully tailored. Signature layering and experiments with proportion were all here, but restyled on a less exaggerated scale, making for a more accessible look that should hopefully expand their client base. Even extravagant bugle beaded sweaters looked casual and nonchalant. Celebrities in attendance included Kyle XY's bespectacled boy starlet Matt Dallas (pictured right). We would be lying if we said we weren't looking forward to our seasonal gift bag of American Crew products as much as the show, and they didn't disappoint with a shaving set including a bristle brush. Also in the bag, a packet of Rit All-Purpose dye in Cocoa Brown. A play on the name? The packaging coincidentally matches the color combinations in the collection. We don't know what to do with this, but as we are always up for a science project, we are thinking of things to dye brown.
After the jump, RUBIN SINGER & RACHEL COMEY

Young RUBIN SINGER showed his third runway collection to a pounding tribal house music soundtrack. The tightly focused lineup was inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis with a hard-edged '80s feel, but Singer was at his best when he turned to flowing chiffon nighttime dressing and inventively designed furs which should sell well at exclusive boutiques like Linda Dresner and Long Island's Mary Jane Denzer. He may have been ambitious in booking one of the larger tents, but we would much rather see a show in roomy comfort than cram too many people into a tiny venue.
In other important discoveries, fellow attendee and newly minted reality show host Tyson Beckford looks surprisingly short for a male model (which you can kinda tell when he stands next to Niki Taylor on "Make Me A Supermodel"), but still happy to pose for pictures with anyone who asks. Another welcome development, "Project Runway" contestant Christian Siriano, enjoying his 15 minutes, appears to have tamed his wildly asymmetrical hairdo, a welcome development.