From the Runway

October 20, 2009

Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010 Recap: Chanel, Hermès, Alexander McQueen

[Images via Style.com]

Chanel

Chanel S/S 2010 was, hands down, my favorite collection of the season. It managed to be fun yet sophisticated and was showcased amidst farm scenery, though the clothes were not overshadowed by the uniqueness of the down on the farm set. The show had a very “Marie Antoinette” feel to it: a charming and romanticized take on rustic country life full of sweet and delicate dresses paired with a pale color palette of black, red, and blue accents. Though the collection was nothing truly groundbreaking, it stayed true to Chanel’s aesthetic and played up its own trends instead of giving us yet another take on trends we have seen over and over again this season.

[Images via Style.com]

Hermès

Tennis was the theme at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2010 Hermès collection. I wasn’t too keen on the idea upon hearing the pitch for the line, but as soon as I saw the clothes — and, of course, the impeccable bags — I quickly changed my mind. Gaultier delivered a sophisticated, timeless collection for Hermès that is on-trend without veering too far overboard nor disposable once the next season rolls around. Each piece was beautiful, wearable, and effortless, from the tennis skirts to the silver chain-linked belts.

[Images via Style.com]

Alexander McQueen

Appropriately titled “Plato’s Atlantis,” Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 RTW collection was out of this world and was truly one of my favorite shows of the season. Inspired by mankind’s evolution from the sea and the idea that we may someday return, the dramatic collection featured 10-inch heels, belle-skirt silhouettes, braided asymmetrical hairstyles, aquatic colors, and intricate, digitally printed dresses. Evolution is still stuck in McQueens head, and ours, from the Darwinian-inspired collection that featured large to small taxidermied animals framing the runway. With this collection, McQueen proved he still knows how to put on a show — the hair, makeup, clothing volume (not to mention the shoes!), and overall primitive/futuristic aesthetic were combined in a slightly unsettling, almost scary, way — and the outcome was a brilliantly creative work of art.

-Sarah Nason

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October 14, 2009

3.1 Phillip Lim Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

by fashionpulse

The video from the pre-runway show Q&A with

Andre Leon Talley, Phillip Lim, and Linda Fargo

[Christian Louboutin for Phillip Lim Heels, Fashion Pulsers Julia & Jaimie]

I had never been to the American Express shows before, and was always curious as to if they were exactly the same as the regular runway shows. The answer is both a yes and a no; there’s a cocktail hour beforehand, and discussion on the runway with industry vets and the designer who’s showing. My experience of the whole event closed out spring 2010 fashion week on a lovely note, and I do have to admit it was quite wonderful to sit front row at the American Express Phillip Lim show, not having to worry about gettnig run over by the paparazzi or waiting for an indefinite amount of time for the show to start. I did feel that the entire vibe was so much more mellow and organized than the regularly scheduled shows, and everything was so fresh and new, since 3.1 Phillip Lim had just debuted for the fashion crowd the night before. The discussion was between Andre Leon Talley, Linda Fargo and the charming Phillip Lim, and then the runway show started!

The collection was breathtaking, as to be expected, with sky high heels that proved to be a challenge for some models, a strong palette of largely black and white pieces, and amazing draping -pleats that were a mix of Fortuny and Rodarte-inspired looks. I felt a slight nod to Narciso Rodriguez, yet downtown cool prevailed and Phillip Lim is truly the king of chic for the ultra-modern lady. Overall, the American Express show experience was incredibly pleasant, and a great night out for a taste of the best of fashion week for the non-fashion industry folks with an AmEx card!

October 5, 2009

Milan Fashion Week Favorites: Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Alberta Ferretti

by fashionpulse

[Images from Wire Images]

Fendi

Fendi’s Spring 2010 collection successfully embodied some of my very favorite things: sheer fabrics, raw edges, lots of neutral tones, and a romantic-yet-rough overall aesthetic (not to mention, the runway show was set to my favorite album of the year, The Dead Weather’s ‘Horehound’!). Karl Lagerfeld took the season’s obsession with transparency to a whole new level, all the way down to completely see-through evening clutches. The collection successfully blended toughness and relaxed femininity and the outcome was one of the best Fendi shows in recent years.

[Images via Wire Images]

Dolce & Gabbana

The design duo’s S/S 2010 show was heavy on the lace in a super charming, incredibly flirty, burlesque-meets-tango sort of way. The mixture of textures and fabrics that one might not initially think would be well meshed (such as denim and lace) turned out to be a hit as the details were impeccable and the collection was true to the house’s Sicilian roots. The show lacked the giant ball gowns that have been prominent in its last few seasons, instead showing a return to form with tailored suits, hotpants, corsets, and mini dresses.

[Images from Wire Images]

Alberta Ferretti

Romantic chiffon dresses were all the rage at Alberta Ferretti’s Spring/Summer 2010 show. The soft, delicate dresses featured this season’s trendy pastel palette with a few strong splashes of color and embroidery hidden amongst the nightwear-inspired floaty fabrics. Though this season has seen no shortage of gauzy feminine gowns, Ferretti’s are among the best as they are very wearable, beautiful, and timeless.

-Sarah Nason

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October 4, 2009

Goth Chic Rules the Runways

by fashionpulse

It’s not a bad idea to go slightly Goth with your look for Spring 2010, according to several designers who rocked the runways this season, veering away from bright colors and light sentiments associated with the warmer months. The looks range from “Queen of the Night” to “Avant Garde Vamp Chic”.

Our favorite Goth-inspired runway looks: