My Top Three Favorite Collections From Fall/Winter 2011

After viewing well over 100 shows this season, I'd like to share my favorite shows and why they are my favorites. I usually favor the shows I feel are actually useful, clothes that I can actually imagine people wearing. I do enjoy the avant-garde shows immensely, the shows that are worth watching for the feeling you get, but what a good fashion journalist should look for in a collection, are the clothes that people will not only wear but will also flatter the persons figure, shape, and size.
Out of New York I loved Proenza Schouler. The designers, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's inspiration for this fall collection was Native American blankets. And all of the jacquards that was seen on their runway, was technology designed, meaning they used the computer to design all of the fabrics. The collection was genus at it's best, so balanced and so useful.Giorgio Armani's collection in Milan was placed in a romantic setting. The models--smokey eyed and tousled hair--seemed as though they should have been conversing in a classy setting, smoking a cigarette; not walking a runway show. Giorgia Armani was my favorite out of Milan, the silehette of the garments were beautiful, and the way the flared cropped pants moved on the models were stunning. Armani was elemental this season, playing with a plush palette; soft pinks and beige, contrasting them with blacks and metallics. The collection was superb.I used to favor Valentino, that was until Valentino himself retired in 2008. I've had my share of negative opinions of the new designers who have proceeded the couture house, but those seem to be changing. After Valentino's retirement, I felt like the clothes we're being forced to be beautiful, I also felt as though the Valentino aesthetic was changing. The new designers were trying to make the clothes something they weren't, and I didn't like that. But these past few seasons Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have been doing very well. It was their Fall Couture collection that I noticed the old Valentino aesthetic was coming back, it was starting to feel like home again. Paris was a wonderful week, full of one stunning collection after another. It was difficult to narrow it down to my favorite based out of Paris, but I had to side with Valentino. A very wonderful color palette of matte greens, purples, beige, and creams (though I would have liked to see some Valentino red). The clothes were perfectly tailored and cropped, and the hung magnetically on the models. Valentino hit it out of the fashion park.

Valentino & The Gap - What the F&*#?!?

So the other day I discovered something that makes me feel conflicted. At the moment I don't know if this is a good thing, or a bad thing. The major fashion label Valentino is doing a collaboration collection with the affordable brand, The Gap. I learned this via BOF, a website I check out religiously, and if you are even a bit interested in fashion, you should too.

So anyway, back to my mixed feelings. Why am I'm not excited? And why do I feel like this shouldn't happen. I'm all for being able to afford huge fashion labels such as Valentino, but I personally never really liked the Gap so I'm not happy to know that one of my favorite labels is doing a collection with them. Oh, and maybe I'm just a little bitter because it's a collection exclusively for women, so no men allowed I suppose. Whatever, I'll probably end up at the Gap when the collection comes out which should be sometime this November just to see what the collection features.






Stay Stylish

--Marcus
(Photo from askgirl)

The Beginning of the New Year - Fashion Week

That's right everyone it has once again approached - the January in fashion, the new year - It's September, which means fashion week. Starting tomorrow we have nine days of none stop shows. Clothes! oh the clothes! There is only one slight problem. This year I am in college and have no time for anything other than my college work so hopefully I'll have plenty of time to review shows. For New York's fashion week I'm most excited for Vera Wang and Donna Karan. As for London I'm only looking forward to Burberry. Now Paris and Milan are different stories, I will most likely review every show during their fashion weeks. Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Prada, Lanvin, the list goes on and on... I think I'm in love, with clothes that is.

I thought I would take the time to go back in time and look at my favorite looks from the 2009-2010 Sping/Summer Fashion season.


(From Left: Vera Wang, Valentino, Oscar De La Renta)


(From Left: Carolina Herrera, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen)


(From Left: Lanvin, Chanel, Christian Dior)

Don't ask me why I chose nine looks, nine just sounded good at the time, but god those are such stunning ensombles. But what kind of fashion blog would this be if I didn't post some beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, magnificant shoes? Who could ever forget the show stopper at the Alexander McQueen show? The Armadillo Stiletto. They send shivers down my spine.




Those shoes are beyond amazing, there are no words for shoes like those. I would give my first born child just to try a pair on. They are breath taking.

Also I thought since we are approaching the Fall Season I would dig up an one of my all time favorite fall collections. Ever. This is John Galliano's 2009 Fall/Winter show. It's only the first part, but it's still a wonderful show.




Stay stylish everyone, and happy fashion week.

--Marcus

(All Photos from Style.com.)