Thursday, November 17, 2011

best of acne spring 2012 menswear collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and gorunway.com
Jonny Johansson transports us to the seventies for his spring collection,
although I may argue its also the fifties with a style that resonates with
the film The Talented Mr Ripley. The muted brights and refined tailoring
are perhaps what attracts me most in this collection - Johansson presents
a range of timeless pieces.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

best of karl lagerfield for chanel couture fall 2011 times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and chanel
A very dark collection for Karl Lagerfield- however he continues
with his embellishments and delicate details, a slight relief after that
spring collection with a sea of pastels and sandal boots this would
have to be more in-line with Lagerfields aesthetic with a twist of
the victorian era

best of ricardo tisci for givenchy haute couture fall 2011 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and givenchy
Ricardo Tisci is undoubtedly a man of many talents his couture
collections are in another world beyond his ready to wear collections
they are exquisitely detailed, subtly elegant and simply masterpieces
which is such a contrast to the restrain and structurally refined
aesthetic to his ready to wear. Tisci again focuses on the entire garment
top to bottom, front to back in a way that other designers don't dare to
venture.

best of jean paul gaultier haute couture fall 2011 collection times three



images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and jean paul gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier presents a couture collection showcasing his
his talent and experience in couture working tailored masterpieces
with feathers, silk and pleats to acheive this etheral and feminine
collection.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

best of bill gaytten for christian dior fall 2011 haute couture collection times three



images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and christian dior
 Bill Gaytten creates accessories remnant of memphis
furniture of the 80's influenced by post modern forms
and designers such as the inspiring Ettore sottsass these
pieces are both sculptural and architectural. There is a
restrained and elegant layering of 3-dimensional forms,
colours and material that become surreal and engaging-
as an architect myself I feel as though I need to invest in
such a piece that are so carefully considered and
composed they become art. It is rare and exciting for a
fashion designer to be influenced by architecture and
furniture design especially from such specific and inspiring
periods that shaped and formed the aesthetic we live by today.
An exciting succession from Galliano that will most definitely
deviate from Dior's traditional aesthetic.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

best of phillip treacy for giorgio armani haute couture fall 2011 times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and giorgio armani
An eastern inspired couture collection, Phillip Treacy creates
utterly unique and inspiring millinery that simply steals the show.
Their saturated colours, defined forms and elegant structure are
almost architectural. They visually become the primary element
to every outfit.

best of azzedine alaia fall 2011 couture times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and azzedine alaia
A very refreshing return to the the Couture scene- Azzedine
Alaia presents an inspring collection that instantly cements his
career as a master in haute couture with his typically iconic
feminine pieces that will remain timeless. Most pieces captivated
from the inverted pleated felt gown, to the waist tucked dress coat
and of course his iconic laser cut lattice dress with a scalloped
contrast undergarment that accentuated and emphasised both
pattern and material.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

best of proenza schouler resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and proenza schouler


Perhaps the only two men in fashion who make me
this weak at the knees- Lazarro Hernandez and Jack
Mccollough. Season after season they have progressed
and within the last two years have produced flawless
collections each piece wearable and unique. And this
resort they just had to do it again - it makes me feel
more and more helpless scrolling through each piece
thinking how will I get my mittens on these pieces with
so very few stockists and a limited earning capacity!
Despite never having acquired any of Proenza Schouler's
pieces I still ultimately find huge satisfaction in admiring
these collections and their clever designs and techniques
season after season. This resort they assemble a palette
of maroon, khaki, amber, taupe, ochre and paprika with
tailoring remnant of the 60's with the shift dress, mini
skirt, cropped shorts, and of course the wavy graphics.

best of prada resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and prada
I sense a little bit of vintage 60's glamour from Miuccia,
perhaps inspired by the movies or celebrities the collection
brings back polka dots, luminous florals, two-toned trenches
and here it comes studded leather jackets! Only Miuccia can
pull these pieces off with her hold on the fashion masses she
can single handily seduce, capture and transport women to
another  era, she is undoubtedly more powerful than we will
ever know.

Monday, September 12, 2011

best of marni resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and marni
 Consuelo doesn't alter her energy when it comes to a
pre-collection, she still demonstrates an inspiring level
of detail, skill and consistency that makes Marni, every
piece becomes undoubtedly identifiable! This resort
collection was a 70's inspired collection with pattern,
contrast leather and canvas in a-line shapes and curved
and scalloped hemlines.

best of christopher kane resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and carven
 Christopher Kane's resort collection is like a lifesaver candy
packet with all 5 flavours or perhaps one could compare it to
the scientific reference of colours in the optical spectrum. In
any case Kane doesn't fail to visually engage his audience -
in this collection its by using colour and contrast in fabrics
that emphasise colour.

best of carven resort 2012 colleciton times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and carven
 Guillaume Henry's debut resort collection for Carven is
exquisite with vintage accents- the fifties styled dresses
and cropped shorts and jackets are utterly feminine. The
colour palette is refreshing with apricot, navy and camel
a harmonious teaming of colours- the prints are quite
the contrary with the slightly jarring combination of acid
yellow, soft pink and blue a range of colours that draw
attention.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

best of brioni resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and brioni
Alessandro Dell'Acqua's fall collection saturated in blue and
toffee brown was just a taste tester for what he has in store
for Brioni. Brioni has such luxurious benchmarks when it
comes to fabric and materials and Dell'Acqua's colour palette
and refined and restrained tailoring accentuates those materials.
I keep thinking how to define this collection and in few words
as possible shes is fun, adventurous but elegant, a wonderful
combination!

best of balmain resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and balmain
Olivier Rousteing delivers his debut collection for balmain,
a strong and consistent collection with a strength and
androgyny that maintains the legacy of Christophe Decarnin's
aesthetic since the rebirth of balmain in 2007. The collection
is a visual feast of beads, pattern and gold that alludes to a
modern tribal woman amongst our urban jungle.

best of sarah burton for alexander mcqueen resort 2012 times three



images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and alexander mcqueen
 Sarah Burton has created a practical and romantic
resort collection with hints of haute couture evening
gowns embellished in gold and then there are these
pieces the tailored and practical where she uses
lace, ocelot prints and checks in a palette of khaki
tans and white. Burton's tailoring is of course
exceptional from the lapel to the tail of her lovely
ocelot patched coat to the straight cut and cuffed
pants with a strong focus on the waist.

Friday, September 2, 2011

best of sonia rykiel resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and sonia rykiel

Admittedly a very safe and predictable collection for Rykiel
this resort, it ticks all the boxes- stripes, colour, bows and
glamour. I'm a touch bit disappointed considering the last few
collections have been progressive and filled with little surprises-
however this is a resort collection and I assume she is hoarding
her creative thoughts for the up and coming spring shows.

best of rachel comey resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and rachel comey
Just when you thought tie dye was over Rachel Comey
drags it back with an elegant touch of silk and fine
tailoring- a very evening based collection with delicately
assembled silk and lace garments.

best of peter pilotto resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and peter pilotto
The boys who master the digital print don't fail us once again,
Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos transform the jacquard
print into a scale beyond our own visual perception which gives
the appearance of vertical pleats in an acid wash of colours.

best of jonathan saunder resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and jonathan saunders
Another colourful adventure for Jonathan Saunders- his aesthetic
is becoming more and more defined as pattern that is accentuated
by a very considered luminousity of colours. Saunders as result
tailors his garments in quite traditional forms I suppose not to take
attention away from the key aspects of his work.

Monday, August 15, 2011

best of giorgio armani resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and giorgio armani

I have to admit I found these images slightly alluring,
the washed out tones began to propose something different
in this collection, however upon close assessment I then
realised it is still very much a Giorgio Armani collection,
compared to his previous resort collection this presents
a more relaxed tailoring that uses unique washed pastel tones
in silks that are eye catching.

best of alexander wang resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and alexander wang
Wang makes strong references to scuba sporty tailoring in
his resort collection- and ofcourse I have ignored that
and focused on his use of leather and more elegant feminine
tailoring. Wang has created a new woman in fashion who
is utterly feminine but errs on the side of androgyny- his
approach is incomparable and will continue to fill a gap
that the market has left vacant for too long.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

best of zac posen resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and zac posen

A romantically soft and beautiful collection for Zac Posen
this resort with a soft colour palette teamed with neo-prene's
and ruffled silks- a very restrained Posen collection.

best of stefano pilati for yves saint laurent resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and yves saint laurent
Stefano Pilati has a nautical influence for his resort
collection- with the typical stripes in both clothing and
accessories- beware though when I say typical stripes
I don't mean typical tailoring, of course one can only
expect sophisticated tailoring and details from the likes
of Pilati. What I most enjoyed though was the brave
use of red leather in a summer collection.  

best of vionnet resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and vionnet
Vionnet moves in a more outerwear direction with this
refined and casual collection with luminous colours
blocked together and playful prints. The colour blocked
tunic and matching pant transports me to Celine's 2011
resort collection and who wouldn't want to go back there!

best of stella mccartney resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and stella mccartney
Stella continues to present trend breaking resort collections, how
can one forget last years resort collection with those amazing botanical
printed silk pieces and the colourful silk suit ensembles. This year
is becomes a sister of that brilliant collections with more tropical prints,
and silk blazers. My favourite pieces however are the playful stripes and
the houndstooth- I'm a sucker for a large houndstooth!

best of reed krakoff resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and reek krakoff
Reed Krakoff can barely set a foot wrong since branching out
onto his own, this season he not only blocks colour but fabrics;
sequins on silks, sheers on solid, prints on solids - he tailors them in
such a way that they come completely different elements rather than
layers.

best of pringle of scotland resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and pringle of scotland
Alistair Carr brings a futuristic approach to Pringle's resort
collection with sporty cuts and digital prints that diverge away
from the house's traditional knits and argyles prints. I perhaps
would have preferred to see a futuristic manipulation of Pringles'
traditional knitwear.... but I guess I will have to wait until
his next fall collection.

best of preen resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and preen
This would have to be Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi's
best collection to date- the colours and the prints represent
a evolution and progression in their design aesthetic that has
been rather stagnant over the past few years. The clever
execution in this collection would have to be the integration
of the old botanical Japanese prints with a modern colour
palette- particularly the acid yellow.

best of phillip lim resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and 3.1 phillip lim
A refreshing colour palette with relaxed fits are the key
elements of a Lim's resort collections- the slouched look
is tailored carefully in this collection with wide waistbands
and pintucked sleeves, a simple and understated collection.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

best of narciso rodriguez resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and narciso rodriguez
A bold and graphic presentation for Narciso Rodriguez that
perhaps refrences cubist art or bahaus design. The colour
blocking and geometries are dramatic and quite masculine.
A refreshing approach from Rodriguez.

best of pedro lourenco resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and pedro lourenco
Pedro Lourenco's debut resort collection has placed
this young Brazilian on the map- besides the tropical
prints I would rather draw attention to these pieces
with the primary coloured graphics that fold and
reveal - his use of colour and leather is profound.
Lourenco is almost a hybrid of the creative minds Nicolas
Ghesquire and Peter Pilotto

best of marc jacobs resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and marc jacobs
Marc Jacobs resort collection is a very soft palette
unlike no other of his previous summer collections. We
see a harmony of olive greens, beige and greys in a
60's inspired damask and floral printed shorts that are
remnant of wallpaper designs. Despite the neutral palette
it still demonstrates a youthful woman.

best of marc jacobs for louis vuitton resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and louis vuitton
Marc Jacobs manipulates the textural cross weave in
a very playful nautical/parissienne resort collection. In
my opinion some pieces are quite reflective of Marc
Jacobs aesthetic of playfulness and youth but perhaps
they are not suited to the house of Louis Vuitton- for
instance the wedge lace up sneaker.  However most
of the collection represents the works of an experienced
and talented designer.

best of alber elbaz for lanvin resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and lanvin
Alber Elbaz cannot disappoint, this resort he creates utterly
feminine and flattering pieces from his tribal style flapper dresses,
stripped jumpsuits with draped sleeves and of course every
other piece that drapes elegantly on any woman making each
garment look effortless in its construction. This season Elbaz as
usual does not shy away from the accessories besides the
extravagant neck pieces we begin to see headpieces- time to
get a milliner on board the lanvin team. 

best of jason wu resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and jason wu
The major influences of Wu's collection was sportswear and
swimwear, ofcourse I have instead chosen to focus on pieces
that are more traditionally Jason Wu's that is the tailored  and
elegant feminine pieces. He again utilises lace to create a very
refined look and who cannot dismiss the contrast canvas and
black trench coat- almost remnant of Celine and Bally but with
that extra detail that I crave.... the elbow patch and black piping.

best of helmut lang resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and helmut lang
Helmut Lang focuses on a very neutral palette for their resort
collection a very brave proposal of grey and black asymmetrical
pieces. The most intriguing pieces are perhaps the shadowed
feather printed dresses that are quite enigmatic.

best of gucci resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and gucci
Frida Giannini plays it safe with her resort collection which
is meant to reference 50's and 60's collections from the Gucci
archives, however it is perhaps more remnant of her previous
Spring/Summer 2009 collection. The drop pleated waist on
these dresses is also seemingly popular in Miuccia's most
recent Fall 2011 collection. A surprisingly refined and minimal
resort collection.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

best of giambattista valli resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and giambattista valli
Giambattista Valli takes on new proportions and volumes for
this resort collection, he combines vibrant colours with
ethnic tribal prints in a look that remains simple and austere.
The coats are particularly outstanding with their colour
blocked stripes and structural volumes.

Friday, July 22, 2011

best of erdem resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and erdem
Erdem's flower powered resort collection was filled with
the expected splash of colour and digital prints that has
become synonymous with their name. This collection
demonstrated a delicate approach with lace prints and
soft tones harmoniously teamed with those stunning
printed pumps.

best of derek lam resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and derek lam
Derek Lam ventures into the sportswear territory for his resort
collection with colour blocked geometries with tones of toffee,
electric blues and denims- a casual and bold resort collection.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

best of diane von furstenberg resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and gorunway
Diane Von Fursternberg's resort collection was ofcourse
colourful and filled with vibrant prints as to be expected.
What remain innovative in this colleciton is the the dynamic
graphics that were almost grafitti or mambo like in their
dramatic black and whites. A very youthful approach.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

best of karl lagerfield for chanel resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and chanel
Lagerfield pays homage to Coco Chanel in this resort
collection with his use of the signature monochromatic
black and white tones and of course a sea of colourful
tweed suits. He explores with geometric patterns and
contrasting fabrics and tones.... not to sure about the
thong boots however. I have to say though that this resort
collection doesn't compare to the amazing 2011 resort!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

best of pheobe philo for celine resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and celine
Still a minamalist at heart Pheobe Philo presents a unique
debut resort collection for celine filled with bold colours
and materials the standout piece though would have to
be the leather patchwork and carefully colour blocked
coat simply because it comes as a suprise as it is
inconsistent with Philo's work, is this a taste of what is to
come for the spring collection ahead?

Monday, July 18, 2011

best of christopher bailey for burberry prorsum resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and burberry
Christopher Bailey's creates a collection where each singular
pieces manifests details and craftsmanship that is progressive
in his own design aesthetic and the house of Burberry. Perhaps
one of my favourite collections from Bailey to date from the
colours; the beads; the patterns; the embelishments where does
one start and end, an exciting direction for Bailey.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

best of christopher bailey for burberry prorsum mens resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and burberry prorsum
Bailey's resort collection for men was playful with its
colourful geometric patterns with perhaps a tribal
influence in both colour and graphics. It represents an
incredibly unique and pracitcal direction for mens
fashion. The colour palette is simply flawless!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

best of pheobe philo for celine resort 2012 dresses times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and celine
I think it is only fair to say that I have secret crush on
Pheobe Philo, I mean what woman wouldn't! She knows
exactly what a woman wants..... and of course there is
no exception with her new resort collection, I couldn't
even narrow the collection down to three pieces - instead
dividing it into two categories.The dresses/skirts in this
collection would have to be the best she has designed for
Celine for many reasons from the leather, the two-tones,
the subtle colours, the large buckle cinched at the waist
it just looks so damn good! Her pieces never fail to instill an
air of empowerment and elegance.

best of tomas maier for bottega veneta resort 2012 collection times three


images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and bottega veneta
Tomas Maier's collection was incredibly refreshing- the
layered colour blocked silk and chiffon in its dramatic
colour combinations are almost a prerequistie to any resort
collection, the restrain of the desgin exudes a sophistication
and elegance in Maier's skills.

best of ricardo tisci for givenchy resort 2012 collection times three

images courtesy of http://www.style.com/ and givenchy
Ricardo Tisci continues with his floral print exploration following
his violet infused fall collection for Givenchy. However this
resort we see a tropical influence with a psychedelic digital print.
The tailoring has a sporty approach that is structured in the
chest and shoulders. A fun and modern collection for Tisci.