Fashion and Festivals

Posts Tagged ‘Spring 2011 collection’

Few editors enjoy venturing out in the midst of a thunderstorm, but when Halston is involved fashion insiders will go puddle jumping to the presentation. Today the chic set stepped out of their town cars and into paradise when the iconic brand revealed it’s Spring 2011 collection.

And based on the range of looks inside, one thing is certain–skin is in! The bareness of summer and a sun kissed glow influenced the overall aesthetic; camel, mauve, ivory, bisque, and white dominated with coral adding a bright and refreshing touch.

An all black vignette of draped confections are the type of seasonless looks women will covet. Sequin strapless and asymettcrical gowns dazzled in homage to disco-era glamour, while a fierce leopard print caftan was a soft take on exotics.

Halston Heritage’s creative consultant Sarah Jessica Parker was glowing in one of the key Spring trends–coral. She arrived to scope out the scene and was impressed with what she saw. “Ah, it’s just beautiful,” she gasped. Our sentiments exactly!

Mulberry knows how to throw a party and Tuesday night the iconic British brand threw a soiree atop the SoHo House to celebrate their Spring 2011 collection. This season Emma Hill was inspired by the mysterious Secret Garden in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book. She therefor recreated the fantasy with a mystical floral motif. Giant paper dolls greeted guests like Kelly Osbourne, Olivia Palermo, Selita Ebanks, Alexis Bledel, and Caroline Murphy.

And of course loyal friend and fan Alexa Chung was on hand; the brand named one of their “it” bags after her. DJ Dan Williams spun for the crowd; he was followed by an acoustic set from Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, whose harp added a bit of elegance.

Fashion editorial types hung out on ottomans by the pool, where oversized pink roses floated by on lily pads. With a Mulberry Bellini in one hand and fish in chips in the other, the crowd got in the English spirit. And for the evening insiders felt transported to a tranquil and chic countryside.

Christian Cota hit it out of the park with his Spring 2011 collection. Inspired by the Yucatan jungle, Cota took heed from the sights and sounds of nature; he paid particular attention to birds. Their influence played out in abstract prints and feather details. His masterful use of color made fabrics look and feel like an artist’s canvas.

Whites, washed-out pastel tones, and peach were a serene mix. “I wanted to use mixed texture and transparency to express that sense of movement you find in nature,” said Cota.

It would seem contradictory then that Cota’s aesthetic was also informed by technology. Pixelated patterns and modern silhouettes played in contract to Cota’s more ethereal details. But in the case of his simple long sleeve dress and a sleek feminine pant-suit, Cota’s vision was pure and clean. This season marked a major step forward for the young ingenue, whose collection was nothing short of impressive.

Alexander Wang took a step into the future with his Spring 2011 collection and from his vantage point, things looks quite promising. A large inflated cloud like installation hanging from the ceiling at Pier 94 set the scene for a forward thinking series of looks.

Gone were his dark iconoclastic pieces of season’s past; they were replaced by stark white, celery, and burnt umber. Deconstructed dresses, pants, tops, jumpsuits and vests boasted cutout details that enhanced the silhouette. Tech fibers adorned with metallic strips gave t-shirt dresses, a hooded windbreaker and slouchy pants a space age feel.

Top models like Lily Donaldson, Karolina Kurkova, Agyness Deyn, and others were treated to white clay and feathers clumped in their hair; thankfully when we saw they at the after party it had already been cleaned out!

It’s no wonder Wang continues to be an editorial and retail favorite; he moves fashion forward like no other and for that we love him too!