The '80s - that infamous heyday of spandex, leotards, and leg warmers - seemed an unlikely inspiration for haute couture. Yet designers found a way to incorporate the insouciant exuberance of the decade - minus the tackiness - with vivid hues tempered by clean, sporty silhouettes and minimal accessories. Though solid brights featured prominently at classic houses like Lanvin, fluorescents took a turn for the adventurous with clashing prints at Peter Som and Aquilano Rimondi. Oversized poppies in traffic-cone orange and electric blue were florals on steroids. Streamlined suit jackets over abbreviated shifts in homogenous hues packed a punch. Saturated cocktail dresses assured their wearers that all eyes would be on them. Forget the revealing, ostentatious, and overstylized - a jolt of color provides maximum impact.