The FALL of ALEXANDER WANG.

Everyone waits with baited breath for Alexander Wang...

Last time we spoke, Wang's motocross/80's surf colors translation for Spring 11' came across as reaching for me. I wanted signature Wang. I almost always reach full orgasm when watching his iconic creations/accessories being leashed down the runway. It always looks as if the accessories could metaphysically transcend reality, if only the cool girl would loosen her hypnotized grasp.

Gravity was Wang's enemy this Fall. 70's shag, sheer, and sheen-y leather duffles, over-sized sleeves that are big and rounded at the shoulder but taper towards the wrist, and knee-high boots coalesced down the runway in black, white, and the ever-dependable fall burgundy. I got to say, the Wang shag and sheen reminded me of Barbarella, sans all psychedelic colors, yet still calling out Barbarella's futuristic namesake.

However, the runway look over all was definitely not sexy futuristic heroine, but it could be the girl...I have no idea. I'm a bit perplexed about the mouth covering. Are muzzles the new trend of 2012? I hear the headlines now, "The turtleneck that went too far...."

Otherwise, accessorie-wise, Wang scored again. Touchdown.

THE END.

The FALL of YIGAL AZROUEL.

What I love about Yigal Azrouel's Fall Collection.

1. Complete apprehension of key visual concepts--Fall Colors, i.e. shades of brown, orange, yellow, red, and green do not have to be generically fused together. I do not want to wear nonspecific 70's wallpaper, I don't.

2. Complete lack of recession empathy. Skins and Furs. Skins and Furs. Honestly, (and yes, I started with the punch line) I think this collection reads "Look on the bright side folks, we can't all be poor."

3. The hat.

4. His ability to make feminine/masculine a consistent edgy desirable with understated masculine lines, supple feminine textures and supple feminine shapes.

What I respect and love about Yigal is he seems to lack, what seems completely unavoidable, an ear to the streets. Yes, this particular collection is very reminiscent of Mary Kate and Ashley's 2011 Fall Collection for The Row, but I loved that collection and it did not get the fanfare it truly deserved. Now we get a second chance, which, one eventually realizes happens a lot in fashion. You buy any of these pieces (or the knock-offs that will eventually trickle down and make their way to ZARA) 1. you will have them forever and 2. you will wear them often. It's a romantic ideal, but it is the tangible unspoken rule of individual style. You must choose clothing with an immortal shelf life. It will not only save you from saying "What was I thinking?!..."but it will also save you bundles of pesos. A monogamous relationship with your clothing--my version of "Happily Ever After."



**All photos and video via TheCut

The FALL of RODARTE.

SHOWTUNES: RODARTE FW12 - "Dream Baby Dream" by Suicide by OpeningCeremony

Listen to the above song to hear Rodarte's "ShowTune," aptly coined by Opening Ceremony. Damn't, they always come up with cool coinage...

The word on the streets is Rodarte is going dutch. Artistically, in a literal and figurative sense. Most recent press releases have Rodarte moving slowly but surely towards the mainstream with the ever-so tantalizing fiscal and commercial sirens calling their names.

Plainly stated, I don't believe that. What I do believe is they're simply sustaining a stream of consciousness from their Autumn/Winter 2011 and Spring 2012 collections. A persistent continuity of color palate--dusty blues, rustic oranges, and wheat yellows, (all beautifully paired)--pattern/fabric amalgamation, and to paraphrase myself (how cheeky), keeping with the unconcerned originality that art in all it's forms--paintings, photographs, and film (to name a few)--has inspired.

To name a few.

Christina's World. Andrew Wyeth. 1948.

Films like this.

Terrence Malick's "Days of Heaven" 1978.

 

See any symbiotic transfer? And lest I remind you, this does not mean I don't think other forms of stimuli were noted for inspiration. I'm just saying I doubt these two will ever exchange their design aesthetic in for big business commercialism. Well, other than for Target' of course.



**Photos via The Cut and DVD Beaver