The cold is just now starting to hit us, while Spring collections are already hitting the stores, yet fashion websites are already flooded with images from the Pre-Fall collections for next winter. But yes, this is how it works on the fashion calendar! The positive side of this rather complicated fashion timing? More choices, more beautiful clothes to look at and of course plenty of time to plan what we’ll be wearing next season. Because a successful shopper is a strategic one!
Now as far as Pre-Fall is concerned, things are looking bright yet again, with the colour trend not showing any intention of going away; just scroll down and look at Proenza Schouler’s bright turnqoise dress or Philip Lim’s red-on-red ensemble and you’ll see I’m right! What I’ve also been noticing is that the skirts and dresses, are getting longer, there was barely one collection where I saw a skirt above the knee. In addition to that, we saw a lot of great trousers: tweed, cotton, embellished, you name it they were there, and they were matched to structured jackets and shirts (the peter pan collar isn’t going anywhere either) or simply warm, cosy knits!
So it seems like Fall 2012 will be the season to be sophisticated, less mini, body con dresses and more midi skirts and trouser suits! Maybe the designers heard Karl Lagerfeld’s comment last fashion week that “life is not just a cocktail party and a red carpet.”
3.1 Philip Lim: great structured jackets that you could keep in your wardrobe forever, leather pencil skirts and warm, cosy knits, it looks like Philip Lim is emphasizing wardrobe classics more than ever. At the same time however he remembers to have some fun and he does so by injecting some pop-art on the aforementioned knits and by adding embellishment on white silk trousers (look 5) creating what I think will be one of next season’s most successful, editorial-worthy pieces!
Elegance and class: that’s how I would describe Jason Wu’s Pre-Fall collection! In fact I can already imagine Lily and Serena Van der Woodsen strolling around the Upper East Side in these stunning clothes! He adds more interest to the classic camel coat by adding embellishment and makes pencil skirts look better than they ever did, with that gorgeous houndstooth print! In other words it’s all in the details! My absolute must have would have to be those trousers with the cut-out panels, which is the kind of piece you live in day and night. Also a must: the leather gloves and fur snood…
Proenza Schouler is one of the brands that I’ve only now started to pay close attention to and I’m falling in love! And how could I not, when I see bright turqoise trousers colour-bloked to the most stunning emerald green coat, leather skirts and a chic dress-version of the sporty, padded jacket? In general the sportswear meets couture philosophy that the designers have, is something that has made them stand out from the rest of the New York clique and I think there’s some very glorious days ahead for Proenza Schouler….
Even from the way the model is walking, hands in pockets and slouching a bit, you can see the boyish feel that defines Theysken’s Theory. This is of course communicated through the clothes as well: there were the usual blazers, skinny trousers and loose t-shirts. What was more interesting however was that this boyish, cool vibe was still there, when the model was wearing a fur coat and embellished top or the most feminine white maxi dress. This look kind of represents a mix between Theysken’s new aesthetic, that he has developed during the time that he has designed for Theory, of cool, practical clothes and his past, designing couture-like gowns at Nina Ricci! The result? The most beautiful, fascinating paradox!
Natalie xoxo
