Prabal Gurung has made such a mark on the runway that it's hard to imagine Fashion Week without him. But it was only a few short years ago that the Nepalese designer debuted his Fall 2009 collection at the FLAG Art Foundation. He moved his show to the tents by Fall 2010 and had a stint with the CFDA Fashion Incubator, and the rest is history. Once Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, and Sarah Jessica Parker started sporting his prints, he was a household name (and that's not to mention his highly coveted Target collaboration). It's no wonder why so many women flock to Prabal; the harmonious designer — who's also at the helm of ICB — is fearless in experimenting with hues while toeing the line between strength and beauty in everything he does. Take a look back with this runway retrospective of Gurung's colorful career.
Prabal played with layers, textures, and this ultra-saturated crimson shade.
Joan Smalls closed the show in this elegant, hand-draped midnight gown.
Lovely lavender made for a striking design (as well as lipstick).
The second we saw this dress, we knew it'd emerge on the red carpet, and Hailee Steinfeld proved us right!
Gurung romanced us with roses — rosettes, to be more specific.
Does it get any cooler than this monochromatic shady lady?
Prabal showed the power of sexy with this dramatic peekaboo number.
Prabal's army marched down the runway in strong embroidered numbers.
Nobody does a good belt like Prabal! This draped and printed design was the label through and through.
Can suiting be romantic? With layers of sheer white fabric, Prabal said "yes!"
The prints were back and stronger than ever when worn head to toe.
Among his more romantic designs, Prabal's tiered gray gown was an instant favorite (Diane Kruger seemingly agreed when she wore it to a Quentin Tarantino benefit at MoMA).
Red (and plenty of it) was the star of the Spring 2013 collection.
This gold petal and ostrich design balanced the collection's darker moments.
Metallic panels gave these jackets a surprising oil-slicked effect.
Does this gown look familiar? Prabal muse Zoe Saldana made the style her own at the 2012 CFDA Awards.
You can't say these models didn't vamp it up on the runway — smoky eyes and illusion panels were the definition of "sultry."
This babydoll number was anything but demure thanks to lacing, a plunging neckline, and those ultrasexy shoes.
Whether worn as shorts or pants (as seen here), these chic suits were definite eye-catchers.
This sexy shape came in white, black, and prints, naturally.
You weren't looking at Prabal's Spring 2012 runway if you didn't see purple — the color was everywhere, in prints, solids, iridescence, and sheer.
This runway standout had it all: a great print, leather accents, and a sexy silhouette.
Knee-high leather boots and oil-slicked waves captured the dramatic tone of the crimson runway.
Pink and red became the palette of the season, much in part due to Prabal (and Sarah Jessica Parker, who sported this red carpet design).
Asymmetric draping added unexpected modern appeal to this ladylike ensemble.
In a season of colorblocking, Prabal stood out with an unexpected palette.
Slashes of blue hinted to Prabal's soon-to-be-debuted trademark prints.
There's no Prabal show without a breathtaking gown. Here, sexy underwires were paired with the collection's standout hue: marigold.
The Prabal Gurung woman was encompassed in this strong and chic design.
The show's iridescent palette popped up as accents and head to toe as in the case of this deep green gown.
Airy, feathered numbers, like this plumed cocktail dress, would soon become a signature.
Prabal got a strong start at the tents with a collection bolstered by powerful eveningwear.