The Favorites. (SS13)

As my Current Designers class comes to an end, we are assigned our final project. For the given assignment, we are being asked to choose five designers from the array of designers we discussed in class, all ranging from American, Italian, French, British, Avant Garde, emerging designers and reemerging ones. Of all these categories, I have been able to narrow it down to my top five for this assignment. Tough it has been. I sincerely mean that. So without further ado, let's get started. The order in which I will be discussing the designer's Spring/Summer 2013 collections is in order from my favorite being the first, and so forth. However, these are all my top favorites of the many covered!




 1.Jason Wu

First off is my most favorite collection we saw, Jason Wu. I had never really looked at his collections before, but this one really caught my eye and pleased me from the get go. I find it to be the perfect mix of lovely femininity and sex appeal. The light, sheer, and lacey fabrics mixed with black leather, harness-like straps and open backs, oh my. All that is what I feel compiles to this incredibly sexy feel in this collection without it looking ungraceful or provocative. And I am all for that! The colors most seen is black and white, and we get some coral, nude and navy in the mix. The silhouettes I feel were very classic with a contemporary edge. We get form-fitting cigarette pants, high-waisted shorts, a tight top with revealed backs, and midriffs. This collection totally gives me the vibe of a wealthy, young and trendy business woman on vacation. The fitted and tailored pants, button ups, and almost knee length skirts for work; swimwear, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns. I'd love to be that traveling gal! I couldn't think of a more perfect collection, it has a look for almost any scene. I love how it is also rather wearable for someone how wants to play safe, and also has other pieces for those who like to dress on the edge. Very well done job to the young Mr. Wu ! I really can't wait to see more.

2. Altuzarra

Altuzarra came in as my second favorite, I am just absolutely in love
with every thing about it. From the shoes to the embroidery! I also
feel like this collection is one that is quite wearable, which is another reason why I like it. Form, function and fashion! I had never been familiar with Altuzarra prior to this class, but it only took one collection to really get me hooked, and this one is just pure class, beauty and a little something. The color palette ranges from neutrals like brown, cream, gray and black, we get royal blue, baby blue, olive and gold. That is yet another reason why I loved this collection, it's one of the few that actually have some color for spring! The fabrics are just amazing, we have some pin-stripes, a lot of embroidery, texture, and volume. The silhouette was more relaxed, loose, long and a little layered. The evening wear was just icing on the cake, exquisite. I am so fond with the idea of how he made the dresses look like it was an extremely long, beautifully embroidered scarf turned into a dress. I also am particularly so proud of the fact that he stated those "scarf" dresses that look like somewhat of a hassle to put on, just have on simple zipper in the back and you're out! Again, FORM, FUNCTION AND FASHION. Another thing I adore in fashion is practicality. And his cape/coat is very practical! It has sleeves for when the chilly weather comes around, but also openings on the side for the more warmer vibe. Love love love. And I cannot end this without mentioning the shoes. The knee high gladiator sandal heels are to die for! They will add edge to any outfit, as we can see with them paired with more business casual apparel, and they are just going to be the hottest things for spring! I've been catching them on many runways for SS13 and I feel like they will never really fade. Overall, I rate this collection as perfection.

3. Balenciaga

Up next we have Balenciaga, and the last we will see of Nicolas at the house. I've chosen this collection for a little bit more reason than the previous and rest. I've personally been fond of Balenciaga for some time, so it wasn't new to me like the rest, and since it is the last of Nicolas designing for the house; whose work I love, of course I'm going to include it. Regardless of those facts, I really did like the collection a whole lot! I love the variety we see here through various ways, such as a lot of the bare midriff, high-waisted pants, long and loose suits, cropped tops, ruffles, slits, boxy mini-skirts and a little lace and what looks like to be tweed, but is not! I get somewhat of an old school vibe from these outfits and silhouettes. The silhouette is long and short, as well as boxy and fitted. We get a mixture of all. In the short end is the boxy-mini skirts and cropped tops, and the longer end is the pants, blazers and ruffle skirts. It's all a great mixture of masculine and feminine appeal. The color story of this is basic and plain like the accessorizing. We get black, white, beige, gray, baby blue, and hints of navy, red and a pastel yellow. The fabrics range from what looks like to be tweed but is actually embroidery, some lace, and the rest are rather stiff and structured fabrics. I think this collection was all in all a nice tribute to classic Balenciaga, as well as the best farewell from Mr. Ghesquière for staying true to the house for so long. Round of applause and forever appraised!

  
4. Gareth Pugh 

 Next aboard is a now new-found favorite, Gareth Pugh. Seeing this collection, I instantly liked him. I immediately started looking at his past collections to see what he was about. To my surprise, the rest didn't seem as wearable as this one does. If you solely look at just the garments and not sometimes gaudy accessories and over-the-top makeup, you have a beautiful piece. I chose this collection because I loved the simplicity of it, but the extra design on these rather simple pieces, did it all. The fringe, knits, ruffles, leather, and high necklines were exquisite aesthetic. This collection I also find to be rather easy to wear, it's one colored pieces and the separates are not over the top. The colors in this collection are black, white, light gray and red. I love that he kept it so simple and basic because then do you really pay attention to design and aesthetic. The fabrics are fabulous mix of leather, knit, and what looks like to be jacquard and some satin, but in the smallest amount not taking away from anything. The silhouette is very long and somewhat wide, with the trumpet pants, capes, and what looks like bell bottoms on our sleeves. I just think this collection is absolutely stunning in a more muted way, but in no way is that negative. My favorite piece is the dress with the fringe along the sleeves to the back, so perfect. Shoes? PERFECT.

5. Mulberry

 

 Last but definitely not least is Mulberry. Mulberry was not a new name for me to hear about in class, but I never really paid attention to their clothing. Hence the reason we learned about is as a reemerging brand. If anything, I was only familiar with their handbags, what they were most popular for. However, I was clearly really pleased with their collection for spring. It somewhat takes me back to the seventies with the retro makeup and ditzy floral print in come of their pieces. Another reason why I just loved it is because it's another of the few that actually showcase spring colors in their clothing! How nice is that. The lovely color story of this collection contains mustard yellow, cream, pastel orange, bright orange, mint green, white, black, navy and some nudes. Again, many of those browns and oranges taking me to a seventies era. The fabrics were also just as spring-y as the colors, we see a floral jacquard in different patters, fabrics and colors. We also get a few light, thin and flowy fabrics like lace, and these awesome flared pants in leather, other pieces in leather being some small coats. The silhouette is long, loose and rather wide. I just find the collection to be a masterpiece of spring.

So there it is, my tops for Spring/Summer 13 out of our covered designers in class. Until next season!

Images via Style.com and Nowfashion