Fashion and beauty musings with a dose of my life thrown in.
I am so happy about the buzz surrounding Marissa Mayer right now. She is amazing. I’ve had a massive girl crush on her for about three years now (ever since I read about her in Vogue’s August 2009 issue). I will probably have more coherent post about the impact she is having in the morning, but, for now, this effusive little post will have to suffice.
Credit: Style.com
Sarah Burton reconciles McQ affordability with Alexander McQueen sense of grandeur for McQ’s first ever runway show. McQ imparts many of the elements associated with the Alexander McQueen aesthetic, imbuing a dark sense of glamour and romance to the Fall 2012 collection. I love the idea of being able to find beautiful clothes at any price point, and Burton’s autumnal vision certainly reinforces that idea. In fact, this presentation felt a bit magical as it opened with a fanciful bed of autumn leaves–something hard to come by in the middle of spring. The silhouette is dramatically sculpted from luxurious lamb wool and decadent velvet. Masterful tailoring is on display in the gorgeous military styled outerwear, whereas evening gowns entrance with their Edwardian charm. Sarah Burton gets us ready for autumn while Kristen McMenamy leads us on a whimsical journey through crinkling leaves for a show stopping finale.
Credit: Vogue.com
I sort of have a love/hate relationship with Christopher Bailey’s Burberry Prorsum. While he has certainly brought Burberry into the modern era, sometimes he stretches it a little too far from the original Burberry aesthetic for my comfort. Fortunately, this is certainly not the case with his Fall 2012 collection. I adore the entire concept from the modern Victorian theme to the fantastic parade of umbrellas under Bailey’s own rain shower. There is a wonderful sense of presentation to this collection in general; I love how this feels almost a bit like a tribute to Victorian era London and the heritage of Burberry.
While the extensive use of velvet could feel grandiose, there is nothing heavy about Bailey’s very autumn-esque looks. In fact, I love how he has incorporated the luxurious fabric into his collection. Peplum skirts in velvet, tweed, wool, and crocheted lace feel delightfully on point while the urchin caps add a cheekiness to the look. And I love his version of the quilted down puffer coat as they are well controlled into pleasing silhouettes; moreover, this modern concept with seamlessly incorporated into the theme. Bailey’s indulgences of whimsy are also adorably modern with embroidered owls onto white t-shirts pairs with the aforementioned peplum skirts. Overall, this collection is ” brisk contemporary reworking of Christian Dior’s nip-waisted New Look silhouette” (from Hamish Bowles’ review). I love how Bailey has married very traditional design concepts with his own contemporary vision, allowing for a very chic take on “Edwardian tweedy country elegance.”
Credit: Vogue.com
Antonio Berardi depicts a fall collection full of futuristic menswear and yet retains the elaborate femininity that Berardi is known for. While Spring 2012 was full of artistic armored glamour, Fall 2012 has shifted to a more minimalist feel with its sleek lines and precise tailoring that belays the rather complex details. I enjoy Antonio Berardi’s craftsmanship with his razor-sharp paneling and exact draping. He demonstrates a strong vision though the dense embellishment and complex draping threaten to overwhelm the look at times. His color scheme is particularly delightful with a chromatic palette punctuated with vibrant teal and coral. I love how neutrals have played out in his collection: cream and gray are rendered sophisticated yet youthfully modern. Moreover, the looks are topped off with some fantastic teal suede sandals. And as we all know, I am always up for an excellent shoe.
MFD - Multiple Fashion Disorder 