From kitten heels to mango-bright jumpsuits, the season's premiere runways offer more eye candy than ""Twilight"" on steroids. OK, maybe that's overstating things, but the shows were unforgettable.
September marks the arrival of the ""big four"" fashion weeks. Every year, top designers from across the globe gather in New York, London, Milan and Paris to showcase their latest styles. This year's Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collections were no disappointment and proved that not even downtrodden markets can dampen the vitality of artistic creation.
As the final round comes to a close Oct. 8, we are left with a clearer picture of this season's fads, faux pas and, well, failures. Last is hardly the worst, as both Milan and Paris have brought their A-game, delighting in romance and florals, respectively.
Milan charged right out of the gates with everything from Maurizio Pecoraro's pastel Grecian drapery to D&G's faded cowboy denim. While Luisa Beccaria deserves an honorable mention for her '50s wonderland flair, the pretty-party frocks were tamed by Versace's sassily fearless take on the tea-party theme.
Inspired by Tim Burton's ""Alice in Wonderland,"" Versace's collection manages to be both vertical and voluptuous. The line pays homage to the iconic Italian silhouette with lots of legs, romping hair and curves. Tiny pelmet skirts and geometric prints revive the provocative confidence of the modern woman, while tight gowns with plunging necklines and thigh-high slits make Versace this fashionista's best-dressed designer at Milan.
Hands-down standout in Paris? Indie favorite Isabel Marant. Including fringed pirate boots, floaty boho garments meant to showcase the leggy legs that are many a girl's best asset and vibrant hues, Marant delivered a femininely French line that is playful but grown-up. The puff-shoulder jacket may be the latest '80s craze since leggings to see a comeback. (Before you go donning some vintage ""Saved by the Bell"" blazer, pull out your dictionary and learn the difference between ""padded"" and ""accented"" and apply that visually to a jacket.) Except for a not-so-foxy tie-dyed fur coat (pun intended), Marant's casual-yet-tailored look scores her top points at Paris Fashion Week.
So who then is the lucky recipient of this year's notorious worst-dressed award? Considering only the Milan and Paris shows, the honor belongs to Italian label Marni. Known for its ""magical hodgepodge,"" the label fell flat this season with a costume-y line that clashed like oil and water. It claims peasant chic is back in style (apparently it was in style in the first place). In developing its line, one wonders if the designers asked themselves, ""How much can we possibly (mis)match with ""Beetlejuice"" leggings?"" Some of the floppy pieces look more like baggy PJs, while the collection as a whole resembles a timeline of historical caricatures in each outfit. Stereotypes (hippie, pirate, Elizabethan jester, etc.) fail to mesh, leaving the eye unable to focus as each individual garment vies for our attention. And kitten heels with socks? For shame.
For more OMG moments, check out Thom Browne's collection, which debuted adult men in tutus. Need more be said?
With designers like Burberry and Louis Vuitton streaming their catwalk shows live on the Internet (including Facebook), even the unseasoned Sconnie socialite can keep up with the what's- what of couture aesthetics.
Whatever your budget, you can incorporate these trends into your wardrobe with some smart shopping.
So as you start thinking ahead to spring break '10, shop around for smooth silhouettes and floral prints if you're the beach-basking type, or scout out saturated plissé dresses and ruffled accents for a sultry, va-va-boom appeal (see Lanvin 2010 for ideas). If you prefer a more modest ensemble, gladiator sandals with airy sundresses, tropical shades and an hourglass figure are still go-to classics for spring.
