Fashion Favorites of Spring 2010

It’s that time of year again!  Spring 2010 collections have rolled out in New York, Milan, London and Paris, and I have compiled a list of my favorites.

My favorite shows have been the Paris Fashion Shows, probably because of their feminine glamour mixed with the avante-garde — always a winning combination, in my book. Milan proved to be tired to me, except for Moschino’s stunning comeback (more on this later). London Fashion Week was exceptional in the number of new talents that are rising, like Gareth Pugh and the veteran mastermind Alexander McQueen.  Although New York City is my most favorite city in the world, New York Fashion Week disappointed me with a coup d’état of dismal colors and ordinary shapes.  It’s like everyone had the same colorless vision. Could it be the reflection of America’s mood during these dreary, uncertain times? That remains to be seen; however, one thing is for sure: with the new order ahead, the fashion industry seems to be morphing right before our eyes. Historical times, indeed.

Here are my favorites this spring season:

1. Viktor & Rolf - Undeniably, the epitome of avant-garde and femininity clashed with elegance, Viktor & Rolf do it with ease, wit and charm.  Massive tufts of colorful tulle reworked to make the new ballgown, complete with “cuts” representing the economic cuts the world witnessed this past year. Genius, I say.

2. Jean Paul Gaultier – The L’Enfant Terrible has done it again. Gaultier managed to mix hip-hop street style with corseted ’40s glamour.  On paper, it sounds ridiculous. On fabric, it looks fantastic and fresh.  Satin and denim ruled the collection, while overalls and undergarments made it unique and interesting.

3. Alexander McQueen - Fashion’s own Rebel showed a collection fit for a galactic princess from another world…perhaps McQueen’s world. With brightly printed fabrics and definitive shapes, the woman’s shape was still in tact among all the attention to the shoulders.  Really an innovative yet identifiable style of dress.

4. Moschino - This legendary house is back to its original self, taking back it’s title as “Quirky and humorous yet downright Glamorous.” For the past eight years, Moschino suffered a mundane, conservative bout of ordinary. However, spring 2010′s collection has revived its former self. With whimsical, Chanel-style suits laced with pearls, its signature trompe l’oeil, and tongue-in-cheek style, Moschino has been revitalized. I can hear angels singing.

5. Chanel - Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to meld a feeling, place or time in the past or future into one single collection. “Little House on the Prairie” was the place and the time was now. Chanel’s Ready-to-Wear collection not only embodied innocent, petite-filled images but it also explored the pondering question on all our minds: “What if a country girl wore Chanel?” The answer would be Spring 2010. Obviously, Lagerfeld Netflix’d Green Acres recently.

There you have it — my top five designers this season. If you’re looking to see what the top fashion trends are, I gather it’s:

• Conspicuous consumption is out
• Have a little humor
• Wearing your underwear outside is okay again
• Strong shoulders (the boxier, the better)
• The farm isn’t so bad after all (just be careful your heels don’t get stuck in mud!)

Until next time, Ciao!