Renee Zellweger and a New York Senator Sit in Carolina Herrera's Front Row

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Carolina Herrera is one consistent designer: Season after season, she turns out chic ladylike dresses loved by Anna Wintour and an Upper East Side clientele. It's not a label worn heavily in Hollywood, it's almost too covered up -- except for the designer's gowns.

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In the fall 2012 collection in New York, Herrera regular Renee Zellwegger looked pleased with what she saw, but she's not going to the Oscars as far as we know. In fact, she's in a holding pattern, waiting for an approved script for what should be her next movie, Bridget Jones' Baby. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also sat in the front row -- and these are perfect clothes for a senator to dress to impress her constituency.

While Renee has always made Herrera gowns -- whether column like, fluid or stiff ballgown -- look modern, they wouldn't work for just anyone. She worked mostly in a blue palette for fall eveningwear (blue is definitely fall's hot color, both light and navy -- and every hue in the middle), but we did see one gown we loved: a champagne colored beaded 1920's deco look. Wouldn't this be chic on Berenice Bejo? Wouldn't it be great if the French actress wore an American designer?