Alexander Wang Catwalk Fashion Show New York Womenswear SS2016

No one gets the cool kid like Alexander Wang does. The focus of the designer, who celebrated the 10^th anniversary of his eponymous brand on the first day of New York Fashion Week, has always been the cool girl with not only a lot of style but street cred too. And leave it up to Wang to create her ultimate modern SS2016 wardrobe. He has been covering her looks successfully for the past decade after all.
No arty inspiration needed here as Wang stated his summer looks simply had ‘no concept’. They were just cool, young, urban, ready to wear pieces. Like deconstructed denim, overalls, wide striped pants, heavy leather, lace up details, mesh tops, pajama silks, slip dresses, chain detailing and matching menswear looks.
Proof of Wang’s cool factor and success is in everything. Not only do his clothes sell so well, but the most happening models and music artist simply adore him. Just ask party guests Kanye, Gaga, Miguel and Nicki or performers Tinashe, Lil Wayne and Ludacris. With his work for Balenciaga coming to an end Wang will focus on his own label for the next few years. A smart move. Alexander Wang has more than enough potential and there are far too many cool kids depending on him.

 

Marc Jacobs Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2013

Marc Jacobs took fashion into another direction. Again. But he still finds a covered girl sexy, so that opinion didn’t change. The result for his ss2013 collection: suits with below-the-knee skirts worn low on the hips, bare midriffs and long skirts and dresses. Many of the outfits came in wide vertical stripes — black, maroon, taupe — with matching purses and  little shoes with low heels.  The models’ hair was ratted at the crown and pulled into a low ponytail.

The show was literally eyepopping and a play with optical illusions, also 1960 Swinging London revisited. The message for summer 2013 was hard, young and graphic. The geometric elements were everywhere: zigzag op-art patterns or harlequin effects; shoes with checkered heels.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Modern Nomads

Modern Nomads strutted their stuff on the runways of Asish, Custo, Galliano, Donna Karan and Vivienne Westwood. Dressed in colourful layered ensembles they made quite a cheerful impression. Yet models also looked careless and relaxed, mostly walking with their hands in their pockets.

They wore asymmetrical looks made out of blanket-like fabrics wrapped around their bodies. Their face were covered by scarves, hats or large collars. At Asish they sported the brightest printed pieces, yet Issey Miyake, Band of Outsiders and Marc Jacobs weren’t afraid to add a some color either.

No clear rules for this trend. As long as you just toss a piece of garment around your body (and face) you can walk along with the nomad parade. Let’s just hope it won’t be that cold of a winter that it will be necessary to cover up that much.

Ferragamo Menswear Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2013

Designer Massimiliano Giornetti was inspired by L.A.’s Pop Art scene in the seventies and the work of artist David Hockney. Result: lots of clashing bright colors like orange, spearmint, lemon-yellow, red and pastel blues and greens. The style had a crisp, sporty vibe.
The colors were splashed with  Seventies-style belted car coats, lightweight cotton blazers with contrast piping, carrot pants, double-sided cotton trenches, and leather sneakers. It was an all optimistic collection, but the colorblocking was sometimes a bit too overwhelming.

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 9

It’s the final episode of our ss2012 alphabet. There’s much more to tell about the the new collections, what to think of geometric details, sugar-colors or the many topcoats? We’ll keep those for our trend-reports later this year. Today the last part of our ABC.

Y is for YOU !

You inspire fashion the most. Despite the perfectly orchestrated fashion-shows, it’s always a joy to see how real women wear designerclothes or their own style. The street is here to stay and gives us new color-mixes, style-fusions and smart solutions.

 

Z is for ZIPPER

Now Sports seems an important theme coming spring, zippers are an essential part of this style. Sometimes they’re hard to see, but even in the most exclusive dresses you’ll find a small zipper. It also adds a sporty, modern detail to official dresses, skirts and blouses.

 

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 8

Next spring will be a lively season, with lots of color, elegance and femininity. Good times are coming! Today part 8 of our ABC.

V is for VEGGIES

After Prada’s banana’s last spring and the pine-apples of Stella McCartney, the team of Dolce & Gabbana invited us to the Italian kitchen. They offered us eggplants, courgettes, hot peppers and onions in beautiful dresses, sexy baby-dolls and funny accessories. The stage of Moschino Cheap ‘n Chic was a fruit-market, and the collection was inspired by apples and strawberries. At least it adds color and fun to the clothes and from now on we look with a different eye to a simple Italian tablecloth 😉

 

W is for WHITE (dress)

Get that instant spring-feeling with a white outfit, and speaking of ss2012: a white dress. All leading designers, from Paris to New York, were unanimous: white is the perfect color to update your garderobe. From fluent dresses, pleated skirts and shirts to the strict, clean nurse-like dresses of Jil Sander and Celine.

 

X is for X-RAY

Although the collections are rather serious, feminine and not overtly sexy some designers try to balance too much strictness out via the use of see-through fabrics. Even Raf Simons plays with it in his collection for Jil Sander, he not only mixes different densities, but also takes see-through gingham-checks to cover up shorts and bra’s. And so did Marc Jacobs.  While Marni uses her nude-colored transparent underskirts to add an imperfect and playful touch.

To be continued.

 

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 7

We’ve almost reached the finish of our ss2012 alphabet. Next spring is going to be a great, upbeat season with lots of new stuff to wear and dream about. Today part 7.

S is for SPORT

With Alexander Wang at the forefront, this Sports Vibe shows the feel for active and performing, technical fabrics. It’s very sports inspired, with racy details and closures and fueled with sensuality.

 

T is for TECHNICAL

With a big sports-theme coming up next spring technical details are not far away. Designers are trying to use new fabrics and finishes to give their collection a more futuristic and ultra-modern vibe. Without losing the elegant and feminine touch, except for Gareth Pugh and Thierry Mugler. It’s often alienating and far from reality, but still inspiring an innovative.

 

U is for Under Water

We won’t forget the magical, fairytale like show of Chanel – a mini under water world build inside the Grand Palais. Suddenly water was a theme, and we discovered more designers who were inspired by water. Like Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy. His mermaids were more streetwise and rockin’ than Chanel’s muses – but for sure  white, waving fabrics and peplums, pearls and shimmering sequins are telling the waterstory.

 

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 6

Let’s move on with our ss2012 womenswear ABC. There’s still so much to talk about. More colors, more details and more design.

P is for POETIC VISION

This is a lovely tale of heroines travelling the world, picking up inspirations, connecting and merging the east and the west and marrying these influences in lovely, narrative and poetic stories. The spirit is romantic, exquisitely elegant and fuelled with craftsmanship in tailoring, embellishment, pattern as well as cut. Some glowful decadence in androgynous looks with a daring sensual twist. Shades of China show in dangling tassels, kimono-like wraps, north-African caftans and western suiting. Manipulated city- and landscapes in photo print as well as historical engravings of gardens of Eden.

 

Q is for QUICK UPDATE

Q is always a nasty symbol for a fashion-alphabet. Is it for Quality, Question, Quest?  Well, we chose Quick Update, as in fast update or short summary. So what do we need for ss2012? Something elegant  in electric pastelcolors and a flowerprint, a white dress with a big belt, some ethnic details and a retro vibe in coats, pleated skirts and bandeau-tops. Collections that represent these themes the best are Celine, Prada, Marni and Burberry. So get inspired!

 

R is for ROARING TWENTIES

In this time of crisis, the come back of the Roaring Twenties is not a surprise. But the remake of The Great Gatsby must have inspired some designers too. Art Deco reminiscence and pre depression jazz inspiration resulted in a pure celebration of the dress. For one the canvas to proof the lucky marriage between technology and crafts, for others a manifest to elevate the artisan over the machine. From minutely laser-cut decorations to intricate embroidery, beading and fringing. The 1920’s revived with modern twists; patterns inspired by ancient architectural icons as The Chrysler building, or lean away-from-the-body shifts inherited from the jazz-era.

 

 

 

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 5

There are still some parts to go of the fashion-alphabet for spring 2012. It’s such a wonderful, exciting season that’s awaiting us. Can’t wait to wear a great pleated skirt.

M is for MODERN BAGS

The it-bag of season 2012 will probably be the va va vroemmm clutch of Prada, with the Thunderbird-flames or a cartoon of a car. But the new classics that will last longer we’ll find at Celine, Jil Sander, Chloe and Balenciaga. The modern bag is geometrically shaped, has a short, big strap and is worn under the arm. Look at Balenciaga and Chloe. While Celine sticks to the minimal, in form, function and color. The boxy shapes at Jill Sander are quite new, while Vuittons interpretation of the plastic basket is quite funny and adorable.

 

N is for NEAT PLEATS

The pleated skirts is fashion’s favorite coming spring. Worn low at the hips with a big belt at Celine and Chloe, but also elegant, feminine and swinging in soft colors at Prada. It has everything a woman needs: it’s flattering, sensual, sunny and wearable.

 

O is for OVER ALL PRINTS

Prints are the big message for ss2012, especially the digital flowerprints. But designers take us one step further, they love to see us in print from head to toe. And it doesn’t matter if it matches or not. Digitally manipulated flowers, stripes, fantasy-prints and even classic drawings: the more the better.Mary Katrantzou’s work is the best example.

 

To be continued.

The ABC of womenswear ss2012, part 4

You can fill two alphabets with all the news and trends that will appear in spring 2012. But let’s stick to the main stuff for now. Today part 4.

J is for JEWELRY

The more feminine and elegant womenswear gets, the more refined the jewelry. For the first time Prada presented necklaces and earrings in shiny stones and little roses, sweet and sophisticated at the same time. Marni is always strong with her jewelry, this time she focused at bracelets. And what to think of the accessories at Dolce & Gabbana, made of fake-pasta, pepperoncini and garlic. While they got inspired by the Italian kitchen, Alber Elbaz of Lanvin looked at the street and borrowed the chunky metal for his big bold chokers and pendants.

 

K is for KANYE WEST

For years Kanye West is a regular visitor of the fashionshows. He loves fashion and it seems he wanted to prove his knowledge with a collection of his own. Well, not everybody is convinced about his skills as a fashion-designer after seeing the collection for ss2012. The show he gave in Paris illustrates what he likes and problably what he likes women to wear. Lots of fur, lots of skintight dresses and a trashy (track)suit now and then.

L is for LAYERS

Although the couture spirit doesn’t leave much room for layers, there are designers who don’t want a stiff, minimal look but search for more fluidity, layering and movement in their clothes. Luckily. Not every woman is waiting for Balenciaga-esque silhouettes. So thanks to Haider Ackermann and Ann Demeulemeester there are still exciting layers, color-combinations and silhouettes. But even a modernist as Raf Simons plays with see  through layers in his collection for Jil Sander.

 

To be continued.

 

 

 

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