This is from Alexander Wang’s Spring 2010 RTW collection- my favorite one from him. It was so playful and carefree, but still innovative (the sweatshirt tied skirt and lace up top). He was one of my favorite designers, but as I’ve seen more and more of collections and how his design aesthetic has developed, I find I tend to like them less now. Below are three looks from his Fall 2012 show which was just the other day. I still appreciate the work and creativity that went into the collection, but his clothes now feel very constricting and almost isolating (the turtlenecks covering the models’ mouths in an interesting statement). His clothes are very strong and sculptural- perhaps almost too much so. Since it’s ready-to-wear and he doesn’t do couture (which usually gives designers license to design whatever they want no matter how impractical or abstract), I’m wondering how these clothes will transition into retail. That puffy jacket looks really warm, but the big, shiny maroon one doesn’t look very comfortable or cuddly. But man- Wang knows how to throw a great after party.
One of my favorite designers nowadays is Olivier Theyskens. He’s teamed up with the company that owns the contemporary wear line Theory to design his own collections. His clothes always manage to combine sophistication with gritty rebelliousness. He loves his dark colors and neutrals, and he loves extremes (extremely high heels, extremely beaded tops, extremely tight pants). He’s created a line for the woman that is tough but intriguing. Each look has a little “pop” of something to it- like the decorated jacket or patterned pants. And you know every piece can be easily mixed and matched with one another. Lot of people say fashion isn’t necessarily about utility, but yeah..sometimes it is.
(all images from New York Magazine)
Z-LEFTOVERS 