PARIS FASHION WEEK
A departure from the dark, savage beauty that is classic Alexander McQueen, the Fall 2012 collection embodies qualities Sarah Burton describes as "a beautiful future, positivity, optimism." Fanciful and undeniable works of art, the collection was designed to bloom or “explode” as the presentation progressed, in volume as well as hue ranging from chaste white and blush to rich reds and black. The first flouncing dresses featured gathered skirts with hemlines hitting above the knee and fluffy fur caplets. Decorated with tiny floral blooms, the cherry blossom frocks then gave way to a graphic black and white design created by laser-cut ponyskin on leather. Finally, the collection exploded into billowing ensembles of shaggy goat fur, ostrich feather, or Mongolian lamb weightlessly floating down the runway in cocktail, tea, and full-length gowns. Amidst the feathers and fur there were sheer confections of layered chiffon covered with countless godets creating floating “dandelions” waiting to be whisked away by the slightest breeze. Futuristic visors and architectural, brushed metallic belts served as weighted accessories to the airy collection. We also saw McQueen’s signature heel-less shoes, detailed at the ankle with the same whimsical furs. The usual dark romanticism may not have been present in this season’s offerings, but they most certainly reignited the flame of our Alexander McQueen love affair.
With NYFW here, we at Glam Damn It are hard at work, gearing up to bring you extensive coverage of all the fashionable festivities taking place throughout the city.
In the meantime, to satisfy all your fashion cravings, we present to you a sneak-peek of eight designs which will debut during the F/W 2012 New York, Milan and Paris shows, courtesy of WWD!
Enjoy!
Alexander McQueen
A melody of whimsical chimes set the magical mood for Alexander McQueen. Sensuous femininity radiated from couture gowns made powerful and mysterious by the avant-garde head coverings. Based on the three G’s: Grès for the pleating and draping, Gaudí for the architecture, and Gaia for the sense of all-encompassing oceanic life that infused the clothes, Sarah Burton shows once again her affinity to accurately convey the McQueen vision. The collection opened with ladylike suiting in ivory, blush, and metallic gold. Paired with extra-wide belts at the waist, the skirts came to gold ruffles that flared at the knee-length hemline. Ruffles were capitalized on throughout the collection. Literal aquatic interpretation was present in the matelasse jacquard in a barnacle pattern and silk chiffon in oyster print. Black lace pieces took ladylike to dominatrix paired with bondage inspired footwear laced to the knee. Bright coral gave a burst of color to the collection in a few extravagant show-stopping gowns. Headpieces off to you Ms. Burton, for creating another simultaneously shocking-yet-satiating collection worthy of such a legendary name.
Even though New York has brought on its first round of daily chills to get us more adjusted to the new weather, it still doesn't quite feel like fall just yet. If you aren’t ready for fall either , here's some spring inspired fashion to help you forget that summer is over. CoCo Chanel stepped out of their prim and proper comfort zone to reveal a few pieces from the Spring 2012 Collection on October 4th during Paris Fashion Week.
The classic brand which has received acclaim for its seemingly flawless execution of understated elegance, featured a series of languidly cut and draped mini jackets, cocktails that billowed out below the waist and dimpled at the knee skirts all looked smart and spruce. Karl Lagerfeld, current creative director for Chanel anchored all of his models in space age silver sandals that were quirky, yet chic. Many dresses came with spines dotted with pearls like a siren emerging from the water. Recalling the scene in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" where mermaids circled the sailors' with their wet hair pulled back, the models in Chanel had whitened and jelled hair, finishing delicately with small pearls. Mini pearls also rimmed ears, perforated lips and tickled several models' inevitably tiny noses.
The launch took the form of a cocktail party at the stylish Parisian designer store 'Montaigne Market.' When asked about perception of the line so far, Ashley said they had already been struggling to keep up with customer demand: Their much-publicized $39,000 alligator skin backpack, for example, has been flying out of the door:
“It was the first thing that sold off the shelf,” she told reporters, adding by comparison,“During our last economic crisis in the U.S., the only thing that went up was Hermès."
Galliano's runway show for his eponymous line has been cancelled. Repeat: there will be no catwalk for the princess. His press office has confirmed that the runway show, which was to take place this Sunday on March 6th, will not take place as planned. We will get to see Galliano's work though - his press office has also confirmed that the collection will be shown in a "presentation format." It is considered unlikely that the designer himself will be there, as he has reportedly entered rehab.
Oh, Paris fashion week. To be a fly on a mur.
The schedule has been posted for Paris Fashion Week which can be found here. Plan your time wisely from June 23 - 27th. There's a lot to do and a lot of energy needed.
Paris Fashion Week has come to an end, and as sad and somewhat happy as we are, we must admit that the week's final days were most certainly the best. Designers who had shown earlier in fashion month (with exception of Cerruti's Richard Nicoll) were given a second chance to wow buyers, editors and fashion followers with their talents. Though some collections were a bit, well, boring, they made a pleasant statement. On the other hand, some collections provided a breath of fresh air to reunite the industry and remind everyone there is a future for fashion.
Tuesday, Tommy Ton of Jak and Jill tweeted something that raised quite a few curious eyebrows:
"I received some news tonight that is going to SHAKE the fashion world in the next two days. CRAZY!!!!"
Now, if one were as smart and saavy as we are, they'd note that Tommy Ton has a weird and twisted tie to the Vogue Paris team (via streetstyle encounters). And, with Carine's public scandal with Balanciaga - after being blacklisted from the Fall 2010 show - people are beginning to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Towards the closing of Paris Fashion Week (and the end of fashion month in general), things are looking a bit better, at the least. It's not entirely fabulous - but it's not entirely repetitive either.
Chanel: We're starting to realize that the craze about the Chanel shows is obviously the decor - who cares about the clothing anymore, right? Regardless of Karl Lagerfeld possibly going over budget on a real set iceberg and water delivered from Sweden and giving Baptiste his monthly sugar daddy payoff (we get it), the clothes were just like any other Chanel show. Except that Karl felt it would be funny to add a little humor - fur. As in faux fur. The entire bevy showed faux fur, with heavy thigh-high fur retaliation to Prada's Fall 2009 galoshes. Oops!
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