London Fashion Week Round Up S/S 2011

We were off to London this past week for fashion week. I always love London the most. I find it's always the most creative. There is never a cookie cutter trend in London, plus the cute guys with the great accents don't hurt either.

Sass and Bide was one of the shows on the first day and it was a refreshing show. The name of the collection was "Papa Sucre", English translation would be "Sugar Daddy." For some reason it just doesn't sound right in it's English form. This collection was a lot more simpler with amazing draping and knotting with a natural colour palette. Although it was a lot more softer and feminine then others in the past, their warrior - queen edge was still there in the detailing and styling with the belts and accessories.

Another bad ass designer that showed at London was the one-of-a-kind Vivienne Westwood for her Red Label. The usually politically charged collection wasn't all there. It seems that these days her inspiration is that she just truly enjoys designing and creating clothes. It really does show in the amazing suits, skirts, the ageless dresses and tops. The add of the sporty stripes running down the trouser gave the usual business look an casual one. Even though the collection itself may not have been so charged as in the past, fashion goers were still given brochures about the legal organization Reprieve. Vivienne Westwood was never one to fit inside of the typical box. She truly designed for herself and to get a point across and never just because it was going to sell.

This is also just what Matthew Williamson tried to do with his show. The very typical party girl designer tried to step out and do something different. "My storyboard is a girl marooned on a deserted island", was the way he explained it after the show. Take that as you may, but I can still see the party girls wearing this collection. But don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this line. I found it great with some amazing embellished dresses. Just sometimes when you have one specific type of consumer, it can be hard to step away from that. There were lots of great cocktail dresses and redcarpet dresses, as well as pants and shorts.

Keeping on the same topic of stepping out of the box, I just have to take some time to mention Christopher Bailey's collection for Burberry. In a nut shell, it didn't go over so well with the public and fashion editors. He tried to explain the collection before the show by saying, "We can translate everything so many times and it always feels different, depending on the mood of the moment." Judging from the line and everyone's impression of it, the "mood of the moment "didn't really want to be different. The collection was titled "Heritage Biker" from what I assume to be paying homage to Thomas Burberry. Mr. Burberry was one of the first to design for England's first motor bike riders in the 1900's. Now Mr. Burberry was known to design in a time where form would follow function. I believe he would be hard-pressed these days to see that now it is really more about form that follows fashion. I can only wonder what he would have designed in this day in age. It seemed that the whole collection this season was centered around rock 'n' roll. It is great to see designers trying something new and stepping out of the box but, there is a certain way of going about it. Especially if it is already a label that is known of a specific style. You can tweak a classic, but it never fairs well when you change the whole thing.

Matthew Williamson S/S 2011

Vivienne Westwood S/S 2011

Burberry S/S 2011

S/S '11 New York Fashion Week Round Up

Yesterday marked the last day of New York Fashion Week, but not the end of fashion month. After the final walk through of the final show last night, we now make our way to London. We've seen lots of amazing collections come down the runway this past week. Unfortunately, I was unable to cover everybody and it's so hard picking and choosing which ones to review.

There would be no one better for me to start with for my end of the week round up then Marc Jacobs. Does he ever make a bad collection or a bad piece of clothing at all? There was not one piece that I questioned. Every single one was beautiful and creative. Marc knows what is beautiful and what is going to work for every season.

Great colours and great fabrics came down the runway in both men and women. In my mind, he could do no wrong. Both collections, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, were amazing. Marc by Marc Jacobs had a seventies inspired feel about it. The line had that sweetness and sass, but also a sophisticated look that seems to be one of the biggest trends for the spring.

One great dynamic duo of this week would have to be Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The pair did timeless glamour like no other. Oddly enough there seventies inspired collection followed nicely after Marc's show the night before. Light and sheer colours, high waisted pants, beautiful gowns and pops of colour would be the best ways to describe this collection.

Award season may not be here quite yet, but that did not stop the pair from creating amazing red carpet gowns. Also, there were equally great cocktail dresses and sheer, flowy blouses. The show stopper had to be the final dress that floated down the runway. A one shoulder, red carpet gown. Makes me wonder if and who will be wearing this number this season!

Philip Lim had a equally great 3.1 collection and stuck with what he knows best. The abstract collection was backless, sideless, and bottomless with lots of layering that seemed to oddly work in his favor. It may have also been so successful because of the helping hand of Nancy Rohde, the stylist and Dries Van Noten consultant. The natural colours and tailoring with sportswear is what he knows best. Although I would personally liked to have seen a few unexpected items. My favorite pieces of the collection were the eyelet shorts. Take what you may from this line, but at the end of the day he knows what works for him and what is going to sell.

Now personally speaking, I am a jacket girl, I love blazers, sport coats, and trench coats so Tommy Hilfiger made me a happy girl. I typically do not go for the preppy look but honestly, there were too many great looks from this collection. From the shoes, to the belts, to the dresses, skirts and tops, right down to the styling, everything was absolutely perfect. It was a great collection for the spring and summer.

Now that New York is officially done for another season, London is officially starting up. Very excited to view Sass and Bide and Burberry this coming week.

S/S 2011 BCBG Max Azria

Max Azria's collection was sheer and simplistic. Airy silk dresses and jumpsuits filled the runway.

Going through the collection, it started off with a grouping of white then going through ash grey to pastel colours. To be able to counter act the light and airy feel of the collection, there were splashes of hot pinks and bold colours thrown in the collection which oddly enough worked.

Touches of femininity added with embroidery and lace gave nice depth to the collection.

Overall, the collection was light and free and very wearable for next year's spring and summer.

S/S 2011 Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang's collection was a breath of fresh air. Wang explains his collection by saying "I was looking for something optimistic, something pure." That is what he had achieved with this line.

What may be different in this season's collection is that there is no black, just light colours and fabrics.

Starting the collection was all white, even incorporated in the model's hair, then going to a few softer colours.

Wang was looking for something new, something original. After seeing the same stuff over and over again, it's not new or fresh. It seems that he has captured that in the perfect way that he knows how.

S/S 2011 Vivienne Tam

In the past, Vivienne Tam presented us with lots of cocktail dresses with dark and moody undertones and very tailored silhouettes. This season however was completely different with the overall mood being relaxed and calming.

With this collection, inspiration stemmed from China across India to Persia.

First to walk the runway was great patchy lace dresses with crochet detailing. Tam's collection included lots of great everyday casual looks for everybody.

S/S 2011 Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley's collection was more sweet than sexy this season. With the runway set coming from New York City's Ballet Productions of Romeo & Juliet and Swan Lake.

This collection had great trousers and both amazing silk blouses and shirt dresses. There was a flirty spin on it with bubble cut outs just about anywhere. The only down fall to this was the fact they were almost everywhere on every piece. Trying a little too hard on making the collection flow into one.

Overall great colours and designs, many dresses and trousers that are very wearable.

S/S 2011 Jason Wu

There is a reason why only four years into his fashion career Jason Wu already has 120 retail stores. He knows what he wants, what his customers want, and he knows what works.

This runway show launched his fall range of accessories that is going to include shoes, bags and optical. It also gave away samples of his newly released nail polish collections to all who attended his show.

The collection for this season is a continuation of his last fall line, which was inspired by the tailored look. There was great sheer blouses and amazing ladylike dresses. Prints, retro, and preppy were also in the mix in the most perfect way.

Jason Wu's show was a dream. The whole collection was for every occasion from work to play, going into evening and red carpet.

S/S 2011 Christian Siriano

Christian Siriano has yet again knocked it out of the park. This is the Project Runway winner's fifth collection and it did not disappoint. Siriano really knows what women want and what they like to wear.

His inspiration for this collection stemmed from places he has yet to be. "A bit from Africa, a bit from Asia, and a bit from Mediterranean - Greek."

Even though his collection did not really tell a story of said inspiration, it was still a great collection.

Of course no "tranny hot mess" could have a runway show without some show stoppers. Two big and over-the-top gowns floated across the runway filled with ruffles.

For a better look at the collection and any from this fashion week, go to Style.com.