Since leaving his post as head of design at Bill Blass in late 2008, Prabal Gurung has more than proven his leading man chops. He’s garnered rave reviews—and an Ecco Domani womens-wear award—for his first two eponymous collections, which have been worn by A-listers including Demi Moore and Carey Mulligan.  A Kathmandu native, Gurung is influenced by his "guru," Yves Saint Laurent, as much as by his global perspective—he was born in Singapore and studied fashion design in Delhi, working with Manish Arora and other local designers.  This season—which marks his runway debut at New York Fashion Week—he embraces the “super-heroine,” his strong, decisive female muse. Today, NOWNESS presents a portfolio of the images that inspired him.