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STORY: Gone are the days of dreamy white ball gowns -- for New York fashion designer Jason Wu Spring 2013 is going to be sexy with a dark twist.

The Taiwan-born Wu showcased his spring 2013 collection at an off-site venue of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) in New York on Friday (September 7), with fashion royalty Anna Wintour, editor in chief at American Vogue, in the front row.

Models wearing body-tight leather dresses and harnesses strutted down the runway.

Exposed bras, leather shorts and skirts mixed with lace and chiffon tops created a provocative lingerie-like look.

When a dress was solid in the front, the back was exposed by see-through organza, most finished with leather straps or details.

The designer, who collaborated with luxury lingerie brand "La Perla" for the collection, told Reuters after the show that he was inspired by two very different, yet similar photographers.

"The inspiration was Helmut Newton and Lillian Bassman, two very different photographers, I am a huge fan of both of their work for such a long time. And what I found in common with the two of them was the appreciation for the feminine form. Female beauty," Wu said.

The quality of Helmut Newton, famous for his erotically charged black-and white photos was mixed with the dreaminess of Lillian Bassman's work who gained world fame in the 1940s and 50s for her pictures of women.

"I wanted to walk the fine line between the hard and the soft. That was very important, mixing lace, chiffon with leather. That was a little tougher."

Wu is part of more than 100 designers showcasing at New York fashion week that will run until September 13.