Get on Board With Louis Vuitton RTW Fall 2012

Marc Jacobs took Paris’ fashion elite back in time to present Louis Vuitton's fall 2012 ready-to-wear collection. The line started off with bags and luggage that were perfect for high-end train travelers, to be exact. That was exactly what Jacobs recreated. 

A full-scale locomotive car was built, and its two massive steel doors opened to reveal the models, who were not alone. Each girl was accompanied by an assistant, dressed in an old-time porter uniform, who carried their bags for them.

The collection itself was all about layering. The models wore coats over skirts over cropped pants. Tall yet crumpled ponyskin hats with floral adornments sat on their heads, and square Mary Jane platforms were strapped to their feet. Many of the silhouettes were in an exaggerated bell shape, and the fabrics featured fanatical patterns. There were checkerboards, patchwork leathers, mosaic beading, and holographic tweeds and baubles.

Louis Vuitton's ready-to-wear collection was one that fought to walk the line between modern and old fashioned, yet certainly stood out from every other show we’ve seen so far.

Text Ashley Amidon
Source and Image WWD

Feather and Fur Reigned Supreme at Alexander McQueen

If there was one takeaway from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibit, aside from a rough estimate of exactly how many people can pack themselves onto the Met’s steps, it’s that McQueen’s right-hand woman-cum-creative director Sarah Burton has her work cut out for her to keep the label on the must-see list. While it is not that hard to stay on the scene after you’ve designed Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, it is apparent from Alexander McQueen’s fall 2012 ready-to-wear show that Burton also shares her late mentor’s sense of dark, dramatic flair.

According to the McQueen show, “ready-to-wear” and “couture” aren’t mutually exclusive. Voluminous ruffled furs and feathers capped with exaggerated bell sleeves can now easily transition from the runway to retail. Models walked the fine line between très chic and Koosh ball in ultra-layered looks, which were adorably tapered at the waist with metallic silver bets shaped into flowers and bows. Each look varied only subtly from the one before it, allowing those in the audience to pay extra attention to detail — a peplum skirt here, an off-the-shoulder sleeve there. With every model remaining anonymous in blonde wigs and futuristic, visor-like shades, all eyes were on the clothes, as if you could look away from those gorgeously textured designs. The Royal Wedding may be over, but Alexander McQueen is definitely keeping the fairy tale alive.

Text Kara Solarz
Image Style.com

Roland Mouret's Wintery RTW Fall Collection

Roland Mouret’s new collection was more winter than fall in several ways. The most obvious clue was the color palette. There were no bright reds or mustard yellows that we’ve been used to seeing on the runways lately. Instead, Mouret used pale blues, icey grays, black, and white. A soft, pale green was the boldest color in the collection. 

Winter was the inspiration for the collection; a Parisian winter, to be exact. In 1947, Paris experienced an extremely harsh winter. About the connection between his clothes and Paris in 1947, Roland Mouret told WWD, “There was a sense of contradiction between a new rising elegance, an haute couture attitude whilst others struggled to keep warm.”

The collection mostly comprised of suits and dresses. The clothes featured the form-fitting shapes that Mouret is known for, including A-line skirts, origami-styled twists, furs, and skinny belts on the waist. Mouret used folding and layering to serve as “a protective layer” around the models.

Text Ashley Amidon

Source and Images WWD

Emporio Armani Ready-to-Wear Fall 2012

The Emorio Armani fall 2012 RTW collection was both serious and whimsical. It began with dark grays and blacks and later embraced reds, blues, purples, and even plaids. This change of color and attitude resulted in a line that was young and casual, yet remained sophisticated.

Present in nearly every look were slim-cut and cuffed pants that ended right at the knee. While many refer to them as knickers or britches, the show called them Bermudas. Giorgio Armani also included a ton of rosettes and dots in his collection.

Ruffles, berets, and colored tights also made appearances in the "Little Winter Follies" show. As for fabrics, Armani went for the unexpected by featuring velvet and taffeta. Overall, the collection mixed the twenties with the eighteenth century and added a splash of bohemian flare. As the show notes described it, the styling on the Milan runway was made to add “fun little touches of pure fantasy.”

Text Ashley Amidon

Source and Images WWD

Moschino RTW Fall 2012

Toy soldiers, marching bands, and the Pink Panther could all describe the inspiration for Moschino’s fall 2012 collection. With such a complex description, one may conclude that the collection was wide-ranging, diverse, or all over the place. Each assumption would be correct, but in Moschino’s case, it worked.

Gold accents, double-breasted military jackets, clutches, and mini dresses with ruffles upon ruffles were featured in the line’s runway show. Cropped jackets paired with miniskirts, hooped earrings, zippers, chain-link details, and an array of gloves were also present.

Materials like fur, leather, cashmere, brass, and feathers all appeared in the collection, designed by Rossella Jardini. Described as a parade by Jardini, the ready-to-wear collection was colorful, bold, and fun.

Extremely daring and borderline “out there,” this collection may only work for the experienced fashionista unafraid of taking risks. With great options for everyday errands and evening events, Moschino’s RTW fall 2012 collection should be considered when you're putting together an awesome wardrobe for the coming months.

Text Quame A. Hamlin
Source WWD

Coats of Many Colors From Meadham Kirchhoff

Meadham Kirchhoff's collection was definitely one of the most outrageous runway shows we’ve seen in the past two weeks. When it comes to London style, designers Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff say “anything goes,” and everything about their latest show stayed true to that mantra. From the blue face paint to the orange curls, with the mixture of fur and sequins, the looks from this show reminded us of New York club kids in the eighties.

Each ensemble definitely required a closer look. The pieces were uniquely designed on their own, like the patchy fur coat with the cherry prints. It's definitely a style that's hated or loved. But, with all of the gray, black, and navy trending for the fall season, this colorful collection grabbed plenty of attention. Meadham Kirchhoff’s fall 2012 RTW line will make autumn feel more like summer in its tidal wave of bright shades.

Text Emily Thomas
Image and Source Style.com, LondonFashionWeek.com