Spring 2009

So, I have to say that because I live in Florida, people (a lot of people) from outside the state always look down at (read: on) us and say we're always behind in fashion. I'll give them that a lot of us are, but the rest are way ahead. Let me explain why. We don't get to wear fall clothing.

For one week out of the year, we pull out everything we own that is velvet, leather, suede, and wool and wear interesting outfits everyday. Why? Because this is the only time of year we get to wear them. Especially goths. Are you going to wear vinyl pants in 85 degree, 70% humidity weather? No. What about velvet or long sleeve lace dresses? No, we wait for that week of cold snap to pull out the red leopard furry pants and thigh high leather boots.

The rest of the year we're wearing spring and summer clothing. Depending on how into fashion you are, that means we're always wearing something old, or making guesses at the next spring/summer trends. Needless to say, we're very excited in September when the new trends show, because we can wear them... on Christmas... next to the pool.

So I took just a quick look (cause I'm sick and want to go back to bed) at some of the London shows and was like, "SWEET! Right again!" I always get happy when old projects I've done correctly predict fashion trends. I think I should print out pages of looks that came from the same seasons to include in my portfolio to show how right I am all the time... and usually with very very little research.

So, I'm going to show you the image I used for my collection and you tell me what you think. Granted, the image is a bit "dark" because my clothing is gothic, but you'll immediately see the similarities in inspiration between my picture and the first collection I show you.

Ok, so, Brian Froud artwork. Anyway, I used it for Fall 2008 activewear/streetwear because it's an image of summer, when the fruit starts to go bad on trees right before fall is about to happen. I really liked the colors even though they didn't go with Fall 2008 trends. At the time, we did not have the Spring 2009 trends (though later, when they came in, I was tickled to see my designs matched Spring 2009).

On with the shows... btw, new on Style.com, when you look at the collection in full screen, you get huge pictures instead of tiny ones... hurray!

1: Erdem
So, I haven't really taken a look at this designer before but one of his designs was featured on the Style.com newsletter and it was gorgeous, so I couldn't resist. His collection has the same washed out tones I loved for my collection (including the blue my teacher made me discard... damn her). Also, take a look at the sleeve in my inspiration and the way he uses lace and embellishment to create the same look. Perhaps he is a Brian Froud fan as well? "I just wanted something soft and hyper-romantic, easy but a bit surreal at the same time," said Erdem Moralioglu backstage. "I've got all these images of seventies theater productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Eton boys wearing flowers in their boaters."

2: Fashion Fringe Competition
Four designers and though the girl that won did a great job, I don't agree with the choice. Anyway, take a look at the rich use of fabric manipulation. Something I've been really really into along with embellishments like embroidery and beading. Nice to see it on the runway.

3: Aquascutum
Amazing and wow. What a collection. Everyone should see it. It's got a casual, easy to wear shape and fabrics. I love the print dress with matching solid trench. Beautiful.

4: Paul Smith Women
This collection also pulls from the same color palette I used. There's nothing not beautiful about it. I really think this provincial, ethnic, patterned, colorful, voluminous look is going to be the characteristic of the next year. Please watch this show if you watch no other (they actually have video for it).

5: Luella
Also very exciting. I love the idea of the garden party look gone mad. These types of clothing will be the appropriate attire for my sort of garden party.

Note: I got a giggle about Marios Schwabs using bondage elements like the bathing suit collection I did forever ago. Very demode. I didn't like that he's doing the trend so late.

Also two of my favorite London design houses did this HORRIBLE early 90s inspiration and I swear if I see people wearing it, I will not only stop to make fun of them but might set them ablaze for wearing something so ugly. What were they thinking?!

Fabulous Paris Fall 2008

If for nothing else, anyone interested in fashion at all should constantly check out STYLE.com for the clips from fashion shows. One of my biggest pet peeves with the Style Network is that they no longer show anything about the shows on their channel. I'm going to link to my favorites from Paris Fashion Week for Fall 2008 just because I still can't quite figure out how to cut my posts (working on it though).

1: John Galliano
Style.com has everything for this show (as it should) and the video goes over most of the best items.

2: Nina Ricci
The color palette for this collection reminds me of a dying moth and at the same time
something about my childhood. Who knows... Again with the jodhpur pants. This time in satin. Very sexy.

3: Louis Vuitton
Because of crappy purses, people tend to completely ignore the wonderfulness that is Marc Jacobs for L.V. The structure of these pieces (more hip action!) is amazing. With all the fabric sculpting going on it appears I may need to take up draping again if I'm going to create some of these shapes for myself.

4: Alexander McQueen
An obvious inclusion for me. If I could realize the ultimate fashion job it would be for Alexander McQueen. This collection is... It's just absolutely beautiful.

5: Chanel
One of my favorite things about this collection video was how Lagerfeld was like "That's very flattering, but there's not crime." with a twisted smirk when the commentator commented that his show was like a Hitchcock dream sequence. He's just the shit. This collection is full of the things gothic business women love to wear to the office.

6: Givenchy
The. Most. Gothic. Collection. Ever.

7: Stella McCartney
This collection had so many wonderful ideas going on. Little mini bubble dresses (endorsed by Twiggy no less) and handmade felt and all this English-ness. Very flirty; a different take on the "modern-hippie" trend.

8: Viktor & Rolf
Ok so for one, they had semi--if not COMPLETELY--industrial music in this collection... and that makes me very happy. Second I REALLY would love to hear how you guys think the letters are possible. Think of how cool it would be to translate this into all kinds of things. I'd love a jacket like this with religious and mystical symbols done in black... or even some crazy words like No and Dream. What a concept! And the staples?! I'm TOTALLY doing that!

Also, on an unrelated note, the music at the Karl Lagerfeld signature show was really really awesome. I think it might have been some kind of French Trip Hop... which is the most awesome thing in the world. It reminded me a lot of Ladytron. Anyone know who it was?

So that's all I'm going to feature. I wasn't really feeling anything from the other shows. They had a few key looks, but overall were not inspirational to me. You can check all the shows out on Style.com for yourself though and form your own opinion. I only had a chance to look over the shows that had videos, but if you see a great Paris collection that I missed, please point it out to me so I can drool, too.