RESORT 14' II

 ROCHAS

To be honest, I was uninterested in the first half of this collection but the dresses later on caught my attention. A dress that could otherwise be very "grandma" was slit up the thigh with a tiny belt, adding an instant chic factor. I'm also obsessed with the fantastic paper-like texture on that green skirt and the volume of the pink dress. Lastly--I will never get over my obsession of orange and purple/blue, it's one of my favorite color pairings.

 BALENCIAGA

Mr. Wang did another cool black and white job this season. Drawing from what appears like Balenciaga heritage, he successfully executed pieces with round silhouettes, strong drapery, and controlled volume like the stunning dresses and separates throughout. The fringey sandals and hats are growing on me too...

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

I literally had to sort down my favorite looks to 6 in this collection; everything was just so incredibly wearable and appealing. I loved the overall athletic look in the pieces, from the boxy look of the short sleeves on the shift dresses to the track pants and bermudas (sheer...so perfect). I was also astounded by the color palette, which spanned from amalgamation of brights to all neutrals in a flawless manner. Also, the accessories are so on point--give me those blue sandals ASAP. 

CALVIN KLEIN

I always look forward to what Costa does every season as a minimalist. I am always intrigued by the way he seamlessly incorporates hardware into his designs; last seasons large, pilgrim-esque belts were replaced by thin, refined buckles for this collection. The collection just makes me want to wear crop tops ad loose maxi skirts everywhere I possibly can for the summer. Bravo. 

images via style.com

xx

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PFW | FW13 Part II

 CARVEN

Excellently tailored outerwear pieces are truly Henry's strong point. From cotton candy pinks and powder blues to light camels, the layered looks had me wanting a head-to-toe monochrome look myself. I was very pleased with this collection, albeit confused by the zebra-esque motif on a few of the pieces. Give me flouting lapels and oversized volume or give me fashion death.

BALENCIAGA

The man of the hour pulled it off! Did you know that Alexander Wang only began working on this debut collection for the iconic Parisian fashion house at the BEGINNING OF LAST MONTH ?  The thought of this being pulled together in a matter of weeks (despite an inconceivable amount of thought and planning, naturally) is truly astonishing.
The palette of black, white, and grays was expected for safety, but he rather succesfully executed very well-cut pieces that meshed his own skills with historic Balenciaga silhouettes and volumes. Also, let's discuss the amazing crackling and marbling on the gorgeous dipped hem coats and pullovers. Who's ready for his next collection?

 BALMAIN

Rousteing took us back to the '80s, and at first I did not appreciate it. Fortunately, aside from the severity of the power shoulders and attention to volume, I enjoyed the spectacular jewel tones and splendor of the gem/jewel-like effect of the metallic garments. I was able to appreciate the pieces most when considering them separate from the rest of the look; I would definitely wear the blue mini on Liu Wen. 

 LANVIN

HELP! HOT! COOL! YOU! LOVE! The loudness of the cheeky neckwear pieces were mollified by their pairings with Elbaz' signature Lanvin cuts. The organic floral details (love the 3-D detailing!) and the texture of the frocks all throughout had me in love. It was a new tale of romance for the house of Lanvin.

UNDERCOVER

Kitsch and dare I say weirdness were two of the factors that drew me to this collection. First, the intricate and gilded masquerade masks in bunny and feline forms perfectly matched the youthful proportions and details throughout the collection--the cropped cardigan with an animal graphic, the cut-paper construction of that fantastic white skirt. I also thought the military jacket with the ribcage detail was really clever. The transformation of a button up into a multi-layered and swan-like white frock in the fourth look kept my interest as the collection progressed towards bunched and scrunched up dresses in exaggerated silhouettes. 
images via style.com
xx
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Nicolas Ghesquière's Legacy at Balenciaga, 1997-2012

A few weeks ago, the fashion world was struck by news that Nicolas Ghesquière was to leave Balenciaga after 15 long, influential years. Ghesquière's departure from Balenciaga is effective November 30th--today. Alexander Wang is confirmed to fill Ghesquière's shoes.  I could not believe the news and it was truly the worst news to hear first thing in the morning. Besides original Cristobals, the Balenciaga I had grown up to know was all the work of Ghesquière; I cannot euphemize what I am about to say, but personally, his leaving Balenciaga almost equates to his passing. I will sorely miss the innovation, boldness, and pure beauty of his work. __________ After spending much time in his archives, I have finally finished my compilation of a sort of "tribute" post to Nicolas Ghesquière's tenure at Balenciaga. Finding quality pictures of his earliest collections were difficult, so  most of the following pictures will be 2007 and on. 

I might sound a little crazy for saying this, but Balenciaga was one of, if not the first, labels that influenced me as a child. I came across my first issue of Vogue in 2006 through my aunt, an avid reader of fashion magazines. As a 6th grader still being dressed by her mother, I had no idea what I was looking at, but all I knew was that it was magical and I wanted to see more of it. Both the spring and fall 2006 ready to wear collections are etched into my memory; I can recall my many attempts to sketch the SS06 cream dress and the grid patterned ensemble in FW06. My transition from grade school to middle school was very much affected by fashion, and carried on throughout high school to lead me to study fashion in college.

One of Nicolas Ghesquière's most iconic collections, I never imagined repeated subject matter to be as interesting as this. Composed almost entirely of incredible floral prints on strong silhouettes, this collection was truly unforgettable.

After SS09 I became infatuated with the idea of tights going over my shoes (ha, that never worked) 

I think that the early teens of 2000 were the defining moments for Ghesquière. I feel like the collections following FW10 very consistent with Ghesquiere's true aesthetic but did not show traces of mere repetition. 

As an admirer and fan of Ghesquière's work for literally half of my life, I will truly miss his high standards for fashion, his genius, and his innovation as creative director of Balenciaga.

iamges via style.com xx

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