McQueen's Bondage Angels - FW11 Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FW11 by Sarah Burton

-The Dominating yet Angelic Woman (S&M Angels)

With almost a year under her belt as the Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton has stayed true to the part I loved most about the McQueen's work while he was alive. ---Keeping the female form present, but transforming her into a dominating superhuman. The FW11 collection was very monochromatic with only a few lilac colored looks close to the end of the collection. The rumors of Burton designing soon to be wed Kate Middleton's wedding dress are still rumors, but I'm sure that after seeing this collection, the fashion world sure is hoping that finale gown was a sign. Soft elements from white fur and looks with white fabrics rushing out from the bottoms of most of the gowns. Hard elements on top of the pure like dresses with black leather formed to fit the forms of the models complete with collar straps and breast plates. I love the bondage aspect of the collection...that to me, is what kept it very 'McQueen' and powerful. Dresses and hardware/shoes made out of broken mosaic ceramic patterns into corsets on top of the flowing white floor length bottoms. I mean, it can't be a McQueen show without a little sex and feathers flying, right?! Again, Sarah Burton has produced a breath of fresh air for the FW11 Alexander McQueen collection.

Photo courtesy of VOGUE.com

NYFW FW11 PART II. - PROENZA, RAG&BONE, & THOM BROWNE.

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FW11.

PROENZA SCHOULER.

Another technicolor dream by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The FW 2011 presentation showed very bold colors and tribal like prints which the boys told the Times were all produced on a computer. Incorporating black into every look and squared and triangle lines meeting to form...forms on almost every look is very interesting and appealing. Very native in color and form, but also very fitting and flattering. The collection is not afraid of color and statement prints. The fit of the dresses is very attractive with a cross over shoulder to waist fit. The pieces that stand out to me are the velvet tribal printed pants in Looks 23 and 25. The fit is a drop crotch harem fit...AMAZING. Also, the mustard colored waxy like leather trench in Look 19 is perfect. It brings a perfect color to the all black look and is what I hope, a talked about piece and used in numerous editorials next Fall. The Proenza girls are going Native, but not too native... The boys have done it again keeping their aesthetic close and giving a new take to the fashion gone wild look. PERFECT.

RAG & BONE.

Fur varsity jackets, leather kilts, plaid, and STRUCTURED, STRUCTURED, STRUCTURED! Royal-electric like blue and orange, (two of FW11 big color trends) used full on in some looks which gives the last few looks a uniformity to the patterns in the first looks that are more layered. Two interesting aspects to the collection that caught my eye were the Y-lined knee-high socks/half-legging hybrid and the quilted leg-warmer like covers that add to the uniform effect in way of resembling shin guards or knee-pads...fashion shin-guards, if you will. British designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright give their FW11 a modern collegiate like feel without being too literal. I wish I could get my hands on one of the silver-maroon fur-chested-leather-sleeved varsity jackets in Look 4. AMAZING.

THOM BROWNE.

With Thom Browne's first collection as a Womenswear designer was of course going to accent what he does best. Simple, yet interesting pieces with his signature Americana like red-white-and-blue lines. Very theatrical shapes with an egg-oval waist in coats and oversized eyelashes on every model gives the models female quality since the looks are more androgynous charged rather than leading towards male or female. Thick and luxurious fabrics are covering every look, and the only skin on the models showing is their face and arms. Plaid, wool, and fur...perfect for a fall wardrobe, and what I find perfect about Thom Browne from his previous Menswear and showing now in his Womenswear is that even though the pieces are bigger and stand out more, they are still practical and VERY well made. Where as most people might not see a circle or oval pattern from head to toe flattering, well look again. FW11 Thom Browne. (first collection as a Womenswear designer.) 5 STARS.

Photo credit to STYLE.com & ELLE.com

NYFW FW11 PART I. - MARC, RODARTE, & WANG

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FW11

MARC JACOBS.

The show started on time and with Marilyn Manson blaring. A quilted cylinder and glass floored runway was the scene for the Fall Winter 2011 show. 40's silhouettes and polka-dot hosiery. Small side hats throughout the looks mostly matching the top, bottom, or entire look all together. (A Marc trademark now known to the fashion world,...incorporating hats with looks) Very bold and minimalistic in color, and every piece has a very structured look. Long skirts and high neck lines. The ruffling around the neck gave a lot of the looks a modern Victorian feel if that's even possible. Shoes- the boot-wedge combo is an interesting off set to the very structured patterns and soft fabrics. Marc is always changing and everyone is always watching to see what he does next...and sending out 63 perfectly tailored looks that all have a theme throughout is why Marc Jacobs will continue to stay a front runner in this business.

RODARTE.

With The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, 'Garland's Ruby Slippers' alongside twisters and wheat fields on their FW mood board...(which I got a glance of on Tumblr before the show yesterday) I really did not know what to expect. A full look in ruby and a flowing wheat field print on the bottom hem of the skirt is not what I expected, but I have to say it was a refreshing collection all together. If someone wanted to look sexy on the country side and still stay in theme then this collection would be perfect. The Mulleavy sisters have a way with knits and colors...the sweaters in the collection have a block of color all adding a side to shape a square. The natural waist accent is present in most of the more structured looks giving a flattering shape to the pieces. The colors are very calming and neutral, but also very eye-catching with a popping/bright primary red and lilac. Personally, the most intriguing concept of this collection is how the shape of the square is used to frame the figure and complete the pattern of some entire looks.

ALEXANDER WANG.

Fur rimmed sunglasses and quilted cape coats. Alexander Wang is one of those designers who highlights soft and hard materials in his looks. There is an attitude in his work that so interesting...it has to be based on the shape and material because the entire collection consists of mostly black, nude, and gray. Pops of metallics in the shoes and accessories give a playfulness to the all neutral look. My favorite pieces are the glitter-ized pants paired with a fur lined collared jacket and shrunken sweater underneath.-Also, a sleeveless tuxedo-style shirt-with bib under the sheer paired with leather patched black pants with zipper pockets from waist to knee. The accent of the Alexander Wang girl who has sex appeal and also a somewhat boyish taste in style is definitely praised in this collection with sex appeal and practicality all in one. Oh, and did I mention the furry pumps? Enough said. Genius.

Photo credit to : STYLE.com & ELLE.com