Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (Blast from the Past) -PRADA SS12

American Graffiti! I knew I was going to enjoy the Women's PRADA SS12 collection when I saw the Menswear this past June mostly based on the brightness and the prints. Cartoon-ish prints of fire, 1950's style cars and a use of basic pastels and bright patterns. Classic silhouettes styled into looks with dresses and pieces to be worn alone to add to a great trend. As spring should be, the collection is very colorful and classic SS holiday feel. I mean, the heels even have flames. (Adding to the literal emphasis on these shoes are gonna be "hot").

Photo credit : STYLE.com

On A Limb - By: Guest Blogger, Kelsey Hendrix.

"On a Limb"

William Bradley’s A/W ’12 line brings nature back to the foreground

of high fashion

By Kelsey Hendrix

Inspired. Impeccable. Innovative. The William Bradley A/W 2012 line was a sight to behold and a testament to the power of what can come when creative thinking and natural talent are put to the test.

On March 24, this small-town, student show at the Harrison Galleries in Tuscaloosa, Alabama took on the character of a fashion week headliner, producing only the most inspired of looks and tailor-made pieces. It took the classic ideas of femininity and masculinity, combining them to produce sleek coats, silk jumpsuits, and loose trousers, as designer William Bradley, a senior design student at the University of Alabama, dared to stray from traditional chic. His use of mix-matched textures, fabrics and colors, inspired by the irrational and eclectic tendencies of nature, took the audience by surprise.

The models portrayed the image of men and women too confident to conform, with the music and atmosphere only emphasizing the overlying idea that fashion holds high power when inspired by an innate sense of design.

Splashes of deep tones against black textured tights and rich, collared trenches captivated the attention of those in attendance. A color scheme of deep purple, navy blue, honey brown, rich black and stark white defined a strict theme that is not only wearable but bold.

William Bradley is best known for infusing nuanced sophistication with elements of strength and posterity. His ability to completely immerse himself into his work and the creative process in creating a line is readily obvious to the viewer as his passion and vision come to life in motion on the runway. When asked about his inspiration for his “On A Limb” show, Bradley said the line is “about the juxtaposition between hard and soft materials and the amazing harmony that is produced when you combine the two together.” And the sass and sophistication couldn’t be more obvious.

Bradley’s use of traditional, natural and synthetic fabrics portrayed a depth of purpose behind the articles of clothing. A golden men’s coat created from tapestry hit the knees defining a man importance, while a plum colored silk blouse paired with a honey brown, western-style skirt employed a sense of initiative in casual situations. His McQueen-esque style is fascinating and awe-inspiring, while remaining relatable and desirable all at the same time.

(Above: Menswear tapestry gold coat from the collection)

Elaborate closures accentuated even more elaborate collars that lined the rim of coats that exclaim confidence. Simple patterns, thick scarves and leather accentuation added to the candor of the line. A clear art for tailoring peered through as trousers fit tight behind and loose at the ankle, giving off the impression of greater height and length that is so often desired.

In a show which assaulted the senses almost every other second, a premier collection was born. All of the traditional rules of fashion went out the window, as William Bradley worked to break the boundaries drilled into the minds of men and women since the age of infancy. The basis of femininity seemed to take on the energy and vigor of the clothes, transforming a typically average skirt or jumpsuit into a magical garment, full of surprises and hidden textured treasures.

(Left, the designer himself. Right, Flyer from his recent showing.)

Designs and more information about the designer can be found at www.williambradley.co. And as the phrases “unpredictable nature, evolution from hard to soft, the rhythm of nature, and beauty transformed,” dash across the screen, a line will be realized that exposes the idea that the sky really is the limit and fashion is merely a test of the imagination.

(Photos courtesy of : Corey Nolen and WilliamBradley.co)

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Updated on May 2, 2011 - William Bradley, designer, showed at the 1st Annual Birmingham Fashion Week 2011 on Friday, April 29, 2011, and won "Design Star of Birmingham Fashion Week 2011".

Full size photos at link below.

Photos by: Andrew Hester

The Return of Tom Ford.

THE RETURN OF TOM FORD

TOM FORD delighted Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in the 90's and 00's with appreciation for the female body with Womenswear until he started his creation of TOM FORD for Menswear in 2004 right after stepping down as Creative Director for Gucci. Now he's back to bringing the "sex". Ford showed his first Womenswear collection at a very private viewing this past Spring Fashion Week in September where no photography was allowed. Somehow the Times still managed to grab some shots and even some camera phones got shots, (where reportedly Daphne Guinness and Beyonce had modeled looks), but nothing has truly been revealed until now. Ford said that he would wait until December to reveal, so does that mean December 2010 VOGUE? Apparently. Here's the spread, (Well, the leaked photos from September first, then the VOGUE spread on the bottom). And yes, he did bring the "sex".

(photo credit: NYTimes)

(photo credit: VOGUE.com)

Go to Vogue.com for more larger HQ photos!

Biker Heaven - Burberry Prorsum S11

BURBERRY PRORSUM | SPRING 11

Dear Mr. Christopher Bailey,

(or is it Sir now??...I can't keep up!)

I would like to personally thank you...for bringing one of my favorite pieces of hardware to one of my favorite iconic pieces. Studded & spiked Burberry trenches with motorist pants, leather, leopard, and electric bags. One thing I love about what you have done with Burberry is stayed true to the beauty of Burberry as a brand, but practically turned it into Burberry Bailey with the concepts you have brought to the table. Technique is key, along with attention to detail when placing the buttons, studs, and spikes, and there is no questioning that you are the master at that. The show was relaxing, but also had a "hard" aspect to it with the fabrics and detailing. In June, you gave the boys studs and spikes, and now you've done it for the ladies. There is nothing I love more than a soft and hard element mix, and for things to get a little scary and still be so beautiful.

Summing up, I'd like to thank you again SO VERY MUCH for bringing studs and spikes back from the grunge days and giving it the dignity of the Burberry brand!

Sincerely,

Andrew Hester

StopTalkingThanks.com

My favorite pieces of the Spring 2011 collection were...

from the Menswear S11 collection :

ENTIRE looks 5 | 10 | &| 36 and OF COURSE the pre-finale 42 FULL-ON studded/spiked jacket!

& from the Womenswear S11 collection:

ENTIRE looks 2 | 3 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 39 | Look 10 cropped motor jacket | and OF COURSE ALSO the Finale FULL-ON studded/spiked jacket!

**ALL photos courtesy of STYLE.com and GQ.com