Marni
Marni
Marni
The pre-collections have turned out to be quite a lucrative business for designers. Many times, these collections hint at what to expect in terms of overall trends in fabric, technique, and silhouette for the upcoming runway season.
The looks here are, by far, my most favorite from the Pre-fall 2012 collections. And, in most cases, the entire collections from these designers were my top picks of the season.
Marni and Pringle were at the head of my list. Who’d have thought that an eccentric woods-woman, a quirky mod prep-ster, and an athlete could get along so well and hang together in the same company? Apparently Consuelo Castiglioni of Marni did. Genius! And a big WOW to the overall styling at Pringle!
Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland
I’m a sucker for ‘Messed-up Prep’ and ‘Mod-itude.’ For Pre-fall, the J.W. Anderson collection combined both, managing to exude a neat, adorably pinch-able personality.
The silhouettes were so clean and simple, yet screamed with a punchy attitude, compelling one to wanna walk (or skip) in that girl’s shoes for way-more than just one day. BTW, that platform penny loafer is not only right up my alley…it be bangin’ down my door!
J.W. Anderson
J.W. Anderson
J.W. Anderson
I am typically most attracted to multi-layered looks that are rich in depth and have a complexity of character. This is most often achieved via the careful and thoughtful combination of color, pattern, and texture, with a balanced silhouette rounding out the end result. A clearly identifiable attitude and/or ironic twist—sometimes arrived at simply through the styling—is what these ii’s are on the lookout for.
Hitting the mark on all of these factors combined, AND KNOWING WHEN TO EDIT, can be quite a tall order for a designer to fill.
Proenza Schouler
Proenza Schouler
Pedro Lourenço
Pedro Lourenço
Texture was abundant across the Pre-fall ’12 collections, from the ultra-shaggy furs, to the nubby wools, to the lace and delicate crochets. Often a sampling of the variety could be found in one garment.
Fendi
Fendi
Rochas
Thakoon
Thakoon
Thakoon
Celine
Louis Vuitton
Leather has never looked more appealing to me. This time around, it didn’t have the typical over-the-top slick factor that can translate as trashy. Instead, it was very neat, clean, and spare, with an understated sophistication.
Celine
YSL
YSL
Fendi
Lanvin
I’ve long had a soft spot for clothes with a hard edge and a punk influence. Acne’s punk, this season, was a tough chick who favored clean lines and a minimalist mentality.
Acne
Acne
Strong, sophisticated, and chic….”Power Dressing.” Although at times it was quite covered-up, there was always a lingering air of sexiness in its wake.
Emilio Pucci
Francesco Scognamiglio
Francesco Scognamiglio
Salvatore Ferragamo
Salvatore Ferragamo
Viktor & Rolf
Nina Ricci
A delicate and very feminine romanticism also came through in the collections. Ruffles, lace, tulle and sheer fabrics were prominent.
Celine
Viktor & Rolf
Lanvin
Francesco Scognamiglio
Emilio Pucci
On the eve of the Fall 2012 runway season, I take it you are all on the edge of your seats in anticipation of what’s to come. Or, rather, contemplating your outfits for the week, shining your kick-ass-est of shoes, and slithering and scrounging around making those last minute attempts for New York show tickets. Hopefully this RECAP of the pre-collections has got you warmed up, in the mood, and ready.
Hell, I’ve been exercising my jaw-drop all day in expectation of the workout it will be getting over the next several weeks. These ii’s are clearly committed to the future of fashion.
All photos are from Pre-fall 2012 collections viewable at Style.com.
