resort 2011 favorites & reviews, part III.

Part I & Part II, available at your perusal.

Dsquared² | I’m so used to seeing Dsquared² incredibly sexed up (naughty librarians, anyone?) that I almost didn’t think Resort 2011 was the handiwork of the darling twin brothers, Dan and Dean Caten. The brand’s change in its outlook and aesthetic is a breath of fresh air, and undoubtedly perfect for summer. Nevertheless I’m crossing my fingers in the hopes that Caten² goes back to that sass we all know and love; I’ve grown fond of their signature aesthetic, especially since their “Girl Interrupted” collection.

This modern, mod-ish take on classic prep was well thought out. It’s marketable, commercial, and chic. It was clearly inspired by the jet-setting, yacht-loving ladies, and it is those ladies who will buy each piece. I loved the simple cuts and bright palette, doll-ish Peter Pan collars, blazers + crisp shirt + leather belt + bermuda trousers ensemble in summer-y hues. It was an ode to the tailored silhouettes Dsquared² and Twiggy-gone-preppy, and was on point for what Resort collections are and should be.

Diane von Furstenberg | DVF is, and will always be, the woman’s woman. Pom-pom hats may not be my thing, but I must admit, zee madame has peaked both my curiosity and interest in such accessory. Silly made sophisticated, courtesy of Diane von Furstenberg.

Is it unfair to say that this collection, this resort collection, was my favorite of all she’s ever done, fall/winter and spring/summer shows inclusive? I appreciate artistic ingenuity and subliminal messaging through wearable art, but ultimately, I fall for the designers and collections that showcase a perfect juxtaposition of marketability and wearability with creative design. It’s clear DVF has mastered that art of balance and commerciality. The appeal of the femme-inspired collection, the opposite of masculine tailoring from the previous, is especially brilliant. A Parisian noir film femme, in her black-creme based wardrobe. 100% feminine in all its coquettish glory, and so, so me. Need I say more about the mixing of graphic prints of blousons and shorts? The forties dresses? The boudoir beach-y looks? Le sigh. I’m quite literally pining over this collection, my favorites (obviously) being those I’ve collaged above, from the prints, the posh sunglasses (no pun intended), and the fact that black is clearly dominant in this collection. Black will always be the new black, and a woman can never do wrong in oversized sunnies, a trench coat, and Swiss-dot thigh-highs. It’s why French women don’t sleep alone.

Elie Tahari | My organic thoughts on the collection (upon first viewing): a bit exotic, urban, and it makes me think of Turkey. Why Turkey in particular? Not sure. Turkey evokes [in me] images and sense of rich, exotic-ethnic culture, decadent fabrics and prints, and a bit of desert cowboys (again, don’t ask why) – and this collection embodies exactly that. That may or not be true. I’m crazy, and well aware, thank you very much. I would try explaining to all you lovely people how/why my brain works, but creative processes are not only strictly confidential, but metacognition always ends with circular reasoning and even more confusion. Am I the only who thinks of Turkey when I see this collection?

But back to Elie Tahari. It was a nice collection. The only pieces that stood out to me are the first three in the above collage. It’s nothing particularly special, but both the styled ensemble and the individual pieces themselves possess a quality – that indescribable “there’s-something-about-it” I can’t quite put my finger on, that makes it covetable.

Photograph three, to the far right, is inspiring me to try the Prada turban and Posh sunnies look, à la Carrie Bradshaw. (ph. 1, 2, 3)

Elise Øverland | This isn’t a favorite collection. Regardless, I felt it necessary that Elise Øverland’s deserved a mention. The structure and silhouettes of this Resort collection are brilliant. Lapels never looked so sharp, and the contrast of such architectural jacket against breezier, floor-grazing skirts modernized her Pakistani getaway inspiration. (ph. 4, 5, 6)

♥

bisous,

La C.

P.S.: Only two more parts, my dears. Only two.