obsession : carven

My friend Elyse brought my attention to this line - having started in 1945, it is amazing I've never noticed it before.  Inspired by Switzerland for the resort 2012 collection, the pieces feature photo and map prints that I can't get enough of (and this seems to be their "thing" - these details show up in past collections as well).

 From their latest campaign, at carven.fr

 Resort 2012 collection

 Fall 2011 collection

 Spring 2011 collection

The signature is lovely - unusual cuts on jackets, shades of navy and orange with khaki, photo-realistic printing, lace applique, triangular midriff cut-outs.  Beautiful tailoring.

 Source: Style.com

theyskens' theory spring 2011 rtw

In a simple statement, from my friend Elizabeth, you can pretty much sum up this entire collection:

"How perfect is Theyskens' Theory?"

Everything in this collection is smart.  The cut (from the range of narrow to wide legged pants, and shirts with slits up the side for tucking in either the front, or the back, or both) to the color pairing (black and white, navy and deep evergreen, heather gray and denim), the collection boasts a wearability that keeps a designer status.  And because most of the looks are comprised of separates, it makes for an even smarter collection.

 

The perfect way to ease into the all-white trend - black jacket, black shoes

 

Oversize wide-legged trousers paired with a cropped swingy top - the teeny peek of skin between the trousers and shirt balance out the proportions, as well as the bare arms

 

Delicate straps and diaphanously light layers keep this looking daytime

 

The sheer pocket detail transforms a little black dress into something exciting

 

 

Notice the subtle extra set of straps 

 

Crisp suiting contrasts excitingly with a sports wear play on lingerie

 

Another example of perfect proportion, and flattering color pairing - 3 varying shades of gray

 

A perfect t-shirt (yes, when you buy designer t-shirts you get what you pay for, and there is a difference)

 

I love the subtleties here - the slight warm and lustrous hue of the blouse and the extra long cuff, paired with matte cropped black pants

 

Lingerie has been a huge trend in "everyday clothing" and this is a wonderfully wearable way to do it;  notice how this dress can be for evening, or just as easily worn during the day

 

A tiny cropped jeweled vest breaks this outfit up into visually complementary pieces

 

Denim looking new again and proving that cropped on top and bottom can work together, when balanced by long sleeves and high necklines

A lot of designers for spring have been working with denim, all-black, and all-white dressing.  However, making all three of these trends look right together can be a difficult balancing act, and making them look wearable is even harder.  Often times we are shown looks from the runway that demonstrate a beautiful outfit, but if we were to put this on someone straight off the street they would look out of place.  However here, whole looks or separate pieces can be used. 

And thank goodness denim cropped pants aren't obsolete. 

designer : candy & caviar

I guess this is what happens when your teacher gives you a list of about 20 trend forecasting websites - you find heaps of things you want to show everyone.  I happened upon this designer on NOTCOUTURE, notcot.org's fashion listing.  This spring 2011 collection is just beautiful.  The line fuses an interesting mix of contemporary minimalism with a sporty look.

I must be in love with this color palette - if you missed my post about body wear, I bought powermesh in this very lilac color dip-dyed from white.  I plan to use black as a contrast.  There is something ethereal about the pale purple with the grounding black, and I can't get enough of it.

obsession : ruffles

I was never a big "ruffle girl" - they always seemed too cutesy or child-like to me. But having just costumed a play consisting of many ruffled Island-style skirts (and seeing the racks of can-can skirts and crinolines in the back of our warehouse with the hoops) I've started to love them a little bit. They have a marvelous weight to them, and the volume is just right.

The kinds of ruffles I'm talking about aren't 1970s men's shirt ruffles, or ruffled sleeves. I'm referring to those lovely ruffled strips placed on the hems of skirts or blouses.

Prada Spring 2011 RTW; I love everything about this dress on the right. The ruffle is a wonderful kicks-out-when-you-walk length, the colors are whimsical, and it's still somehow marvelously sophisticated.