Johnathan Blake may be a fashion savant of sorts and a 22-year-old man from Houston, but he is inspired by the ladies, specifically "strong and powerful ones" who are "self-made." Think Oprah, but with a longer torso.

Which is not to suggest that Blake's inspiration is a laughing matter. Just ask anyone who had the distinct pleasure of witnessing it firsthand Wednesday evening as it sayshayed down the runway at the Omni, marking the debut of Blake's Fall 2013 collection. 

Blake dispatched 20 no-nonsense yet elegant looks down two runways during the show, including gowns, cocktail dresses, separates, and the kind of statement-making outerwear that Houston women have the luxury of including in their wardrobes. A restrained color palette of black, red, grays, and silvers allowed the designer to play with feminine details like ruffles and beading without sacrificing his edge. Blake topped off the looks with dazzling accessories from Sakowitz Furs, Valobra Jewelry, and dramatic hats from Gabriela Dror. By the end of the show the audience members were forced to confront the fact that it is, alas, still spring. I'm sure I wasn't the only one wishing we could skip over the summer barbeques and jump straight to the holiday soirees. Six months and counting ...