When a designer takes her bow looking just as amazing as the model wearing the same creation as her, you know the clothes are going to sell. Monique Lhuillier constantly delivers reliably commercial, chic and romantic eveningwear, and this season she’s pulled out all the stops with brocades, silks and yards and yards of tulle. If you love a bit of glamour, you’ll be in heaven with this collection.
Remember when Marc Jacobs showed that insane collection of Stepford-Wives-gone-Amy-Winehouse floral dresses and see-through trousers two hours late and sent the world of fashion into a headspin? This is Proenza Schouler’s version of that. With more money to throw into their collection this season, risks were taken where the boys have previously played safe. The result was a mixed show of everything from 80s jumpsuits to slinky silk dresses.
There were some stunners, but there was also a leather crop top…
The answer is ‘probably’. Though nobody will be winning any design awards for safe the luxe-Western collection, it does what it says on the tin, tying in nicely with the theme we’ve seen in the Justin / Erin Wasson teaser campaign. I actually thought the menswear was much stronger than the womenswear, but there were some great leather jackets, metallic scarves and slouchy bleached denims on offer for the fairer sex…
While the Shiny Style team catch up on some much needed sleep, the Catwalk Queen team are busy covering all the shows we’ve yet to bring you news of. Big news across the Pond is Jonathan Saunders, the London darling who now shows in the Big Apple. CQ has a gallery of his Spring / Summer 2009 catwalk show, so make sure you take a look for the latest in ex-pat style!
Preen’s design duo was minus one very important person over the weekend. Thea Bregazzi was forced to remain in London, expecting the arrival of her first child, leaving husband and design partner, Justin Thornton to oversee their New York show alone. Little de-constructed mini dresses were the theme of the day, panelled with sheer mesh to show of that extra bit of skin, and laced together like corsetry in cut-out sections.
Donna Karan celebrated her 20th anniversary collection yesterday morning, in front of a celeb-packed audience including Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci and Nicole Richie – who wore a DKNY striped tank to suit the show’s theme. Karan’s spring 2009 offering was a fun nod to New York, even right down to the gold DKNY plate necklaces – a Carrie Bradshaw reference.
See a catwalk video of the collection after the jump…
In contrast to his comparatively girly show for Hervé Leger Max Azria’s A/W 08 show was a more mature affair. The palette was a slighty drab but earthy mix of midnight blues, mustards, greys and beiges and worked really well with the clothes. The froth of the Leger show was replaced by sheer tailoring and folded detailing on necklines and strict looking corset belts. Suspenders and stocking tops showed through sheer skirts but were tempered by demure top halves. My favourite detail from the show was the black ankle boots with grey gaiter-like tops (above right).
That’s right, the bandage dress is officially back…
One of the most highly anticipated shows of this season took place yesterday, thanks to Max Azria who relaunched Hervé Leger at New York Fashion Week. Our U.K. sister-site Catwalk Queen is helping with our FW coverage, and say Azria couldn’t have taken over the label at a better time with the recent revival of the body-con trend, which Hervé Leger made famous in the late ’80s to early ’90s. The iconic bandage dress was resurrected and updated with one-shoulder necklines and ribbon appliqué. Evening style versions featured floor-sweeping satin and feathers, adding an entirely new element. Overall, it was a welcome return for the label and a fitting tribute to the “king of cling”.
From:Pictures: 2012 British Soap Awards - Best dressed, Michelle Keegan, Jennifer Metcalf and more