Admittedly, I wasn't expecting much from Alexander McQueen's collection for Target aptly called "McQ Alexandr McQueen for Target" (Editor's Note: it's not apart o the Go International and instead marks the first in a series everyone's favorite retailer is dubbing "Designer Collaborations", whatever that means.)
Anyways, once images for the high/low collab emerged, I wasn't expecting anything more than graphic tees and leggings covered in British punk rock graphics.
Well, I'm note sure if a McQ flack sent WWD over the wrong look book or someone in the designer's camp reads style blogs because what has recently surfaced on the internet concerning the forthcoming line looks amazing and has me down right giddy for affordable fashion once again.
The rockabilly aesthetic in the collection has been toned down quite a bit -- with the exception of a black flared out dress -- and consists of flirty dresses, jumpsuits, well-constructed boy blazers, and chic ankle boots that come in nude and royal blue with a slight (but not tacky or cheap-looking) sheen. Phew. [Is Mental]
Update: NYLON has the complete McQ Alexander McQueen for Target look book available up on its site.
Continue Reading >>> Check out the rest of the looks after the jump
Honestly, we thought Marc Jacobs or Urban Outfitters would be the culprits behind this timely fashion accessory, but we still really like it nonetheless.
Paul Smith. We don't really know him. Well, we never really knew him in the first place or Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada for that matter but we know how the latter two icons operate and what to expect from them each season: off-beat luxury and equally intriguing runway productions.
Mr. Smith, on the otherhand, is a bit of an mystery to us. Oh, yeah we know he loves bunnies! That said, we appreciate his sense of humor and this righteous little shopping tote at left.
It's cool not only because it costs a digestible $14 but also because it advocates not purchasing any of the tempting and very expensive booty lurking on the Paul Smith site.
Yes, we think a new consumer-designer relationship has just been formed. And it looks like it won't cost us much either.
Guess what, guess what, guess what! Gareth Pugh is showing his collection in Paris next week for the first time and everybody is super excited. OK. I am too. And like any good pre-show analysis, the quotes surrounding the wunderkind are at their best:
On what type of woman can pull off a scarf made out of rats: "His current autumn/winter collection was produced, for the most part, in specialist factories in Italy and is available at only the most upmarket and innovative stores around the world — Browns in London, Colette in Paris, Seven, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman in New York. A single piece sells for thousands, and only the most open-minded and confident women are ever likely to wear them."
But that's not it! Independent has lots more fun quotes where this one came from. Check out the rest of the interview with Gareth, here.
Much like the clothes and over-sized handbags, the nail polish the models wear on the runway gets just as much scrutiny by fashion and beauty fans alike.
Chanel is the most notable culprit behind these catwalk nail polish wars -- causing many otherwise sane women to drop thirty bucks on muted and bright-colored Parisian lacquer whipped up by his beauty lab.
But an American design talent has answered the call to produce an enticing nail polish collection and it won't even take away from your Starbucks stipend.
Tracey Reese has teamed up with your moms favorite cosmetics brand, Sally Hansen, on a set of nail paints that will be making their debut this August. The collection was inspired by fabric swatches from her Fall collection and -- wait for it -- will retail for $6.
Funny, because all of Chanel's polishes can be found in cheaper versions at drug stores too, which makes Tracey's decision to sell her new beauty products at CVS this fall one nice conceit.
I'm convinced that within the next few years, huge and over-the-top runway productions every season might just be a thing of the past.
More and more designers are taking advantage of the technology that's been provided to us and are subsequently producing their collections digitally for every able-bodied human being on the internet to view for free.
Plus, if you're a struggling designer (and most are), going digital is the best excuse to cut expenses for hiring a casting director, expensive models, and an effortlessly cool DJ to get your audience in the mood.
Stefano Pilati agrees. For both his men's and women's resort collections for Yves Saint Laurent this season, he tapped one model for each line and he had them try on every piece of clothing by their lonesome for the camera.
Cool. But if someone could upload the looks to Style.com afterwards, it would be greatly appreciated. Just for old time's sake, you know.
