SS11 – Sometimes Yaya

Pixie Lott – Lipsy SS11 Collection

As I continue my quest to dominate my closet with colors brighter than the last, the photos of the new spring and summer Lipsy collection designed by Pixie Lott repeat in my head. The collection features a lot of whites, brights and floral patterns, making it known that the three trends are warm weather mainstays.

If you’re curious how the pairing came about, and what it took to create the collection, click over to Pixie‘s webisodes chronicling the events from start to launch here.

What’s your summer wardrobe looking like?

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Tom Ford SS 2011

The magazine rush to be the first name to cover the secretive and small Tom Ford presentation of his Spring/Summer 2011 collection was probably epic. The designer closed off all cameras and video sources from his presentation and only wanted the bigwigs to attend. Ford complained that the industry and shows became too instant, that one second you create something, and the next there are fifty million posts, tweets, and comments about it. Technological advancement is definitely the foundation to this blessing and curse. The costs can become cheaper to produce a show and add a live feed for the public, as well as reach a larger audience than the limitations of seats and architecture. Then again, some people most certainly miss the days of covering a show and anticipating it’s review appearing in print days later rather than minutes. Some may argue that it keeps the event special. Though I can agree about the validity of the concerns, I can also say it’s pleasant to be involved in the goings on of events and presentations outside of getting a magazine in the mail, proclaiming which items are hot and which are not. As an aspiring media member, it also feels equally as special to have the doors magically move aside and let you in for a closer peek, so that you may give yet another spin on what the trends are, and what’s hot.Vogue tied the race as the first to feature the collection shots online and in print (their December issue), whereas the draw’s other half is Harper’s Bazaar UK, with photos from the actual presentation. Both are surefire hits, and definite selling points as well.

Your verdict?

Photo Credit: Photos 1 and 2 Steven Meisel for Vogue, Photo 3 Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar UK

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Grass Is Greener Across the Atlantic

The American men’s collections during fashion week are usually full of casual and sportswear. There is no drama, no flair. Just cute boys and clothes. Guys almost always get a natural look, some ruffled hair (or super quaffed) and bam, enjoy the runway. In Europe? They dress them up in flowing capes, tight cardigans, Chaplin hats, and scarves that verge on being called headpieces. Where’s the love?

Photo Credit: WWD

Majorly impressed with three (notorious for great shows) brands, as well as a new name to my vocabulary, the Parisian men’s shows (Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior Homme, Boris Bidjan, John Galliano) were more than just eye candy. This was real fashion; equal opportunity style.

Which country’s style do you prefer?

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McQueen Rises

I don’t think any show was as anticipated as the McQueen show. Following the memorial service, the show went off as both a tribute to the designer and a rebirth of sorts for the brand with British designer Sarah Burton at the helm.

Photo Credit: Style.com

The white colors throughout the show reminded me a bit of funerary traditions where attendees wear white to symbolize angels welcoming the passed into heaven. The look and garments had soft factors with interesting embellishments and lots of belts and hardware to accessorize.

As with the past McQueen shows, the ants in your pants are from waiting for what the shoes will look like. Burton’s shoes weren’t claw shoes, but they were interesting enough to get the welcome card. I really like the shoes in the bottom images. Granted, they’re not your everyday shoes, but they don’t look painful to wear, and have a similarity to coral reefs. If I had the extra cash, I’d so get them.
What was your favorite?

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Alex & Eli SS11

From my not too extensive experience with designers and their collections, I have found that there are two kinds of designers. There is the one who will give you a word or two (if that) in regards to the collection and prefer your emotion and interpretation to take over the collection, rather than theirs. Then there’s the second type. The one who spells it out in black and white to you. I don’t know if I have a preference for either. Sure, it feels good to think that your out there hypothetical story can be the real story of the collection, but sometimes it just feels good to be told something and all you need to do is have an ‘aha’ moment when you realize that the words and the images add up.

Enter Alex & Eli. Inspiration? Jacques Cousteau. Can you see it? Try and say no. What about “deep-sea ocean life, complex structures of transparencies and shades.” That requires a little extra consideration, but not much once you see the lookbook. Check out my faves (and their collection video after the jump):

Do you like it?

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Gucci’s bright take on SS11

My favorite luxury brand (Gucci) had their spring and summer show in Milan and as I clicked through each look from their main website, I was overjoyed to see the supersaturated bright colors and the precise details visible on accessories and head to toe.(Photo credit: Gucci)

The pieces had interesting draping and creative techniques for cinching in the waist or feet of the pants, as well showing off an open back. Check out the money shots for yourself here. The best part may have been though, that the runway was in perfect harmony with the brand’s colors.

How do you like it?

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