Sao Paulo Fashion Week

SAO PAULO, Brazil--Sao Paulo kicked off the 40th edition of its Fashion Week Sunday featuring the winter 2016 collection of Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch.

Latin America's biggest fashion extravaganza got under way in the rather unusual setting of the Sao Paulo's municipal building, in the heart of the city.

Long-sleeved dresses in silk and tulle were among the highlights of Herchcovitch's collection, which seemed playfully to allude to the themes of sex and power.

The collection featured attire almost entirely in shades of black, white, or black-and-white plaid, some with peek-a-boo cutouts that displayed a flash of belly button or exposed breast.

Statuesque models strutted in knee-high patent leather stiletto boots accessorizing flowing, calf-length skirts.

Sao Paolo Fashion Week (SPFW) has been held twice each year, in spring and fall, for the past 20 years.

Running through Oct. 23, SPFW features collections from more than 30 designers, including local favorites such as Ronaldo Fraga, Reinaldo Lourenco, Fernanda Yamamoto, Joao Pimenta and Vitorino Campos.