Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013: Day 8

On Day 8, Sarah Burton wowed me with her intricate bee-inspired collection for Alexander McQueen.  This yellow frock was especially fabulous.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2013

Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012: Day 8

On day 8, I was in awe of the beauty of this blossoming McQueen gown by Sarah Burton:

Alexander McQueen Fall 2012

Spring 2012 Fashion Week: Paris

The carousel at Louis Vuitton

Finally, I've made it to Paris, and therefore, my last recap of the Spring 2012 fashion weeks.  Paris's shows are the ones I wait for with bated breath, the ones I know are going to be game changers.  This season, my favorites were Dries van Noten, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander McQueen (always).

DRIES VAN NOTEN

This collection felt like a breath of fresh air--the perfect spring wardrobe for the modern woman.  Dries van Noten does a fantastic job of mixing varied references with crisp, seamless results.  He masterfully blended together sculptural silhouettes, photo print collages, ruffles, and intricate embroidery, for a uniquely cohesive collection.  A black lace-up motif added another twist to his garments--closing off jackets, adding sex appeal to an open-back shirt, or tying up his sandals.  This is one of those collections that you love the longer you look at it.  Let's just say that I'm head over heels.

LOUIS VUITTON

Marc Jacobs loves to keep us on our toes.  After showing a dark, S&M inspired collection for the fall, he did a complete 180 and presented a girlie, sweet-as-cotton-candy collection for the spring.  The show opened with models perched on a white carousel, and closed with the legendary Kate Moss, making this was one of the hottest tickets of fashion week.  The cloud of soft pastel looks took the form of  frothy dresses and skirt suits, accented with oversized eyelet collars and floral appliques.  Sugar was piled on top with beaded headbands (sometimes tiaras), feather trim, and white parasols.  For the tougher girlie-girl, Marc crafted pastel crocodile biker jackets and chrome-tipped pumps.  Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, this collection's charm is irresistible.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Sarah Burton delivered an exquisite collection worthy of the McQueen name, yet again.  This season, she took inspiration from life under the sea (as did Riccardo Tisci, Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace, to name a few).  Some of her looks took the form of a floating sea anemones, some were ruffled coral clusters, while others were shining mother-of-pearl shells. The lace caps and towering sculptural platform shoes elevated the looks to an otherworldly level.  As always with McQueen, couture-level detailing, such as embroidery, beading, and appliques brought each garment to life.  This is the sort of collection that dreams are made of.

Fall 2011 Fashion Week: Paris

FINALLY, I have made it to the last of the fall shows, the triumphant end of fashion month in Paris.  At the top of the pack were my perennial favorites Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga, as well as new favorite Haider Ackermann.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

This season, Sarah Burton continued to prove herself a deserving successor to Alexander McQueen.  Burton's models channeled a snow queen, the ice-cold, devastatingly fierce variety.  The collection opened and closed with all-white looks, but also featured numerous all-black looks that still read "snow queen".  The silhouette and craft of McQueen's legacy was there--in the strict wasp-waisted forms, and the intricate couture level of detail. Every look had a toughness about it, even the most delicate of dresses.  Leather harnesses, rigid collars, and porcelain-embellished bodices gave the pieces an edge.  The final voluminous white gowns were breathtaking...hello, dream wedding dress!

HAIDER ACKERMANN

This was one my favorite collections of all of the fall shows.  Haider Ackermann's elegant draping was so unusual and cool--he is truely an artist.  Languid silks, frayed at the edges, were tucked and twisted in a seemingly halfhazard manner and paired with tough leather belts and gloves.  Slouchy and untucked, every look had a beautiful insouciance.  Ackermann received a lot of press this year when Karl Lagerfeld offhandedly mentioned his name as his successor at Chanel, but it is Ackermann's own line that deserves attention.  His fall collection was another solid performance and I can't wait to see what next season brings.

BALENCIAGA

Nicolas Guesqiere's fall collection for Balenciaga fused the avant garde and wearable.  He opened with a series of floral dresses layered under black knits, worn under woven faux-leather jackets--the recipe for a killer look.  The bold florals and cocoon silhouettes throughout were a nod to Balenciaga's couture heritage, but were interpreted for the modern woman.  Styling was a strong point in the collection, and will undoubtably be copied over the next year--the open-weave knits over florals, dresses over slim pants, and colorblocked separates were right on trend.  The accessories were spot on as well--the baroque-print clutches and pointy sandal/bootie hybrids could stand on their own.  Overall, it was a fresh, memorable collection.

Spring 2011 Fashion Week: Alexander McQueen

Before launching into my favorites from the Paris spring collecions, I think the Alexander McQueen show is deserving of its own post.  There was a huge amount of hype surrounding this collection, as was is Sarah Burton's first runway show since taking over as head designer after the death of Alexander "Lee" McQueen.  Thankfully, she turned out an exquisite collection that would have made McQueen proud.  Sarah stayed true to the brand, referencing trademark McQueen silhouettes and techniques, and incorporated her own softer, slightly earthy touch.  The collection was less severe and theatrical than your typical McQueen, but it had its own genius in the spectacular braided hair, wheat accents, and intricate nature-inspire textiles.  Also, the shoes are to DIE for. 

Birthday Wish

Today is my birthday, and I would like one teeeeny tiny little thing: this Fall 2006 Alexander McQueen lace gown, complete with the draped antler headpiece.  I can't even begin to talk about how fabulous this look is; it's one of my favorite runway moments EVER.

P.S. - J. Crew attempted to knock this dress off here, but fell short.